Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti says he expects Neymar to be fit for the World Cup opener despite his calf injury.The Santos playmaker threw the Sele�os tournament preparations into chaos this week after medical scans revealed a calf strain.The timing of the diagnosis sparked immense fury across the Brazilian media, with heavy scrutiny falling on why a player carrying a muscle tear was given one of the coveted spots on the plane.But Ancelotti shut down any talk of a late squad replacement and says the 34-year-old will feature in the group stage.Ancelotti stated: To be clear, Neymar will be with us. We believe he can recover in time for the first match [against Morocco on June 13], and if not, then for the second one [against Haiti].Ancelotti faced some intense, uncomfortable questioning about a perceived contradiction in his selection policy.Critics were quick to point out that Ancelotti had previously drawn a strict line in the sand, publicly stating he would only pick players who were completely over their respective fitness hurdles.Faced with his own past comments, the veteran manager clarified his stance, admitting his explanation could have been sharper.Ancelotti explained: I spoke about everyone being 100% physically in March, but I perhaps didnt explain very well that I could call up a player who wasnt 100% at the time, but who could be 100% at the World Cup.Neymar was selected because he had to be selected. Topics Brazil National Football Team Carlo Ancelotti Neymar World Cup 2026 Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read World Cup latest: Scotland hit with Gilmour blow Tom Rostance 30th May, 2026 Brazil v Panama: Line-ups, stats and preview for Selecaos Maracana send-off Nicholas McGee 30th May, 2026 Scotland v Curacao: International friendly line-ups, stats and preview, TV channel, live online stream and prediction for 2026 FIFA World Cup warm-up match Ben Miller 30th May, 2026 BREAKING: Brazil star Neymar could be forced out of World Cup due to calf injury Jon Fisher 28th May, 2026 Vinicius Jr: Neymar deserves Last Dance at 2026 World Cup Jon Fisher 27th May, 2026 Good News for Argentina: Messi injury scan results revealed before World Cup Ben Miller 26th May, 2026
