Brazil won 3-0 against Haiti in their second World Cup group stage match on June 19 in Philadelphia, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Vinicius Jr. adding one goal [1, 2, 3]. Vinicius Jr. also provided assists for both Cunha goals, playing a key role in the victory [1, 2, 3].
The Brazilian winger Raphinha suffered an injury during the match and was substituted in the first half. Vinicius Jr. called the setback “really unfortunate” and expressed hope that Raphinha’s injury is not serious so he can remain with the squad [4, 5, 6].
Star forward Neymar, 34, has been sidelined since May 17 due to a right calf injury sustained playing for Santos, missing Brazil's first two World Cup group games [7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]. He has been training individually in New Jersey, away from the main team, and did not travel to Philadelphia for the match against Haiti [7, 8, 12].
Coach Carlo Ancelotti said he remains optimistic about Neymar’s return, stating, “We are very hopeful Neymar can return for the match against Scotland. He has been training twice daily and we will assess him on Monday and Tuesday” [7]. Despite Neymar’s absence, Ancelotti emphasized the player’s value, saying his experience and skill remain important to the team [12].
Brazil currently sits second in Group C with four points after one win and one draw. Their upcoming match against Scotland carries significant weight for qualifying to the knockout stage [1, 2, 3]. If Neymar recovers, he may only be available for the knockout rounds, as he is expected to miss all three group matches [9, 10, 11, 12].
There has been debate in the media and among the public about whether including the injured Neymar in the squad wastes a valuable roster spot that could be used for a fully fit player [12]. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva humorously remarked, "Neymar isn't even playing, man. Neymar is the world's first 'work-from-home' national team player" [7].
Brazil’s next group game against Scotland is scheduled within days, where the coaching staff will make a final call on Neymar's fitness. The team must also monitor Raphinha’s injury status ahead of that match.
