Neymar touched down at Newark Liberty International Airport on June 2 alongside his Brazil teammates, marking one of the most anticipated arrivals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle. The 26-player squad, led by coach Carlo Ancelotti, landed in New Jersey to begin their final preparations for a tournament Brazil hasn’t won in over two decades.
Here’s the thing about Neymar’s inclusion: it’s not a foregone conclusion that he’ll actually play right away. Lingering calf concerns mean the forward will miss Brazil’s group-stage opener against Morocco on June 13 in East Rutherford. But being on the roster at all, after what he’s been through, is the story.
The long road back
Neymar’s path to this World Cup has been anything but smooth. An ACL injury in October 2023 required surgery and sidelined him from major international competition for an extended stretch.
Brazil’s medical staff will monitor his condition closely through the group stage, with the hope that Neymar can feature in later matches. The squad faces Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia and Scotland on June 24 in Miami, giving him potential windows to return to competitive action before the knockout rounds.
