All the teams are already preparing to win the World Cup, and Brazilian star Neymar Jr. does not want to be left out, even though his place in soccer’s biggest event is not yet assured.
However, Brazil’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, could be opening a final door for the Santos FC idol to be one of the players traveling to the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, but before that, he will have to meet certain conditions and prove himself in previous matches.
Neymar to the World Cup?
The player, who will turn 34 before the tournament, has not played for the Canarinha since October 17, 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury that kept him off the field for more than a year in a South American qualifying match against Uruguay. Since then, the Brazilian has been on a long road marked by injuries, recovery processes, and physical problems.
His return to soccer materialized in 2025 with his arrival to Santos, the club where he began his career, after a controversial stint with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. However, Neymar had not played a game with the team since December 7 of last year. His last game was against Cruzeiro in the final round of the Campeonato Brasileiro, as days later, on December 22, he underwent knee surgery to treat a medial meniscus injury.
However, as he recovers from his injuries and returns to the pitch, with just under 100 days to go before the World Cup, good news arrived for Ney: his name appeared on Ancelotti’s preliminary list for the Brazilian national team’s upcoming friendlies, where they will face France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando. This was confirmed by sports journalist Fabrizio Romano on his official X account.
These two matches on American soil will serve as preparation for the World Cup, but they will also be a litmus test for the Brazilian star who dreams of being present at this great tournament once again. However, first he will have to impress his coach.
Ancelotti plans to attend the match between Mirassol and Santos on Tuesday, March 10, for the fifth round of the Brasileirao, along with other members of his coaching staff, to observe the performance of the #10 before confirming his name on Monday, March 16,, according to TyC Sports.
However, Carlo’s attendance does not mean that he has scheduled conversations with the player, but this gesture by the coach stands out in itself.
So far in the 2026 season, Neymar has played several matches with Santos, demonstrating with goals and assists that have gotten soccer fans talking and reignited the debate about his role in his club and on the national team. However, if he does not take advantage of this opportunity, his dream of playing in another World Cup could begin to fade.
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