Seven key players missed training for Brazil ahead of their final Group C match against Scotland, leaving Carlo Ancelotti with a squad management headache at the worst possible time.
The match, scheduled for June 24 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, will determine Brazil’s path through the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For a nation that has won the tournament five times but not since 2002, every selection decision carries the weight of a 24-year drought.
Neymar’s race against time
The most high-profile absence has been Neymar, who missed Brazil’s first two Group C matches with a right calf injury. Ancelotti confirmed that the forward began individual training on June 21 and was expected to rejoin the team on June 22, theoretically making him available for the Scotland fixture.
Then there’s Raphinha, who has also been dealing with injury concerns.
