Ancelotti Has 'No Regrets' Over Injured Neymar as Brazil Eye Haiti Return

Brazil head coach **Carlo Ancelotti** has defended his decision to bring an injured **Neymar** to the 2026 World Cup, insisting he has "no regrets" even as the forward races to recover from a calf problem.

Neymar has been sidelined since May 17 with a **grade-two right calf strain** — a moderate injury involving a partial tear of the muscle fibres. Brazil's medical staff have set a recovery window of two to three weeks, which all but rules him out of the group opener against **Morocco on June 13**.

Rather than rush their talisman, Brazil are pointing to the second group game against **Haiti on June 19** as a more realistic return date. Ancelotti said he expects Neymar to remain central to Brazil's plans deeper into the tournament and confirmed the forward will retain the iconic **No. 10 shirt** regardless of his fitness timeline.

Carrying a player who may miss the opener is a calculated risk, but Ancelotti framed it as one worth taking for a player of Neymar's quality and experience. The Italian's message to a anxious Brazilian public was one of patience: the prize is having Neymar fit for the knockout rounds, not for matchday one.

Brazil's depth in attack means they can absorb Neymar's early absence, but his presence changes their ceiling. Managing his return carefully — rather than gambling on the opener — reflects the same cautious calculus every contender is weighing this summer.