Will Neymar Play 2026 FIFA World Cup? Final Details Revealed
Neymar’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been the talk of the town. As things stand, the chances of the Brazilian forward to feature in 2026 FIFA World Cup are looking increasingly grim. Carlo Ancelotti left Neymar out of Brazil’s squad for the important March friendlies against France and Croatia, and reports from CNN Brasil suggest his chances of making the final 26-man roster are sitting pretty close to zero.
This is a brutal blow for a player who has openly stated that this was his last World Cup, and the Brazilian legend may not get to say the final goodbye.
Neymar’s Final World Cup May Have Already Been Over
Brazil’s squad for the upcoming FIFA international window has been announced, and one name was notably missing. Neymar was not included by Carlo Ancelotti for the friendlies against France and Croatia, and crucially, this call-up represents the final squad announcement before Ancelotti names the definitive 26-player roster for the 2026 World Cup.
As reported by CNN Brasil, Neymar is practically out of the running for the World Cup, with his chances sitting at zero. The timing, however, could not be worse. Internal sources have cited that Neymar is not being considered for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and described the situation as “extremely complicated.” The reasons include growing concerns among the Brazil Football Confederation over his inconsistent appearances for Santos, owing to frequent injuries. More significantly, his reaction to the omission has reportedly not gone down well with board officials.
According to reports, one particular incident reportedly made things worse for Neymar. Ancelotti took a private jet to watch Santos FC play against Mirassol, but Neymar opted out of the game citing workload management and did not even meet him, a moment that could have showcased some commitment to the national side.
Neymar Speaks Out: “It’s My Last World Cup”
To his credit, Neymar has not gone quietly. He shared a candid video on his YouTube channel after being left out, and the honesty in it was hard to watch. “Of course, it’s my last World Cup. I don’t know if it’s my last year in the national team, but it’s coming to an end, and we have to know that,” Neymar said. “I can help the national team. I can help in any way. I know the qualities I have and the power I have on the field.”
“I wish to go back to the national team and play in the World Cup, but that’s not up to me,” Neymar added. “Whether I am there or not, I will always cheer for Brazil.”
His agent Pini Zahavi also weighed in. “I have big respect for Carlo Ancelotti, and I also know how hard Neymar is working in order to help Brazil at the World Cup,” Zahavi said. “I believe Ancelotti will not make this mistake to give up the heart of Brazil, which is Neymar Jr.”
Can Neymar play FIFA World Cup 2026?
Former Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti, has not officially closed the door. “Neymar can be at the World Cup if he is 100%,” the coach said when the March squad was announced. That is the key phrase, 100% fit. And that has been the problem for the better part of two years.
Neymar has not played for his country since 2023, when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. Since then, his return to Santos has been stop-start at best. He has appeared in four games this calendar year, scoring two goals and assisting on two more, decent numbers, but not enough to convince a manager like Ancelotti at this stage of World Cup preparation.
Brazil are in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland, with their first match on June 13 against Morocco. The final 26-man roster is expected to be confirmed before the end of May, which means Neymar has fewer than two months to change Ancelotti’s mind.
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer has scored eight goals in 13 appearances across three separate World Cups, a record that tells the story of just how much he has meant to this nation. But records from the past do not guarantee a place on the plane in June.
Unless Neymar plays consistently for Santos over the next few weeks and Ancelotti has a change of heart, it is looking more and more like the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was his last dance in a Brazil shirt. A sad reality for one of the most gifted footballers of his generation.
