Home / Sports / Brazil's World Cup Send-off: Neymar Injured, Maracanã Roars
Brazil's World Cup Send-off: Neymar Injured, Maracanã Roars
31 May
Summary
- Brazil faces Panama in a farewell friendly before the 2026 World Cup.
- Neymar Jr. will miss the Panama match due to injury, impacting team spirit.
- The match kicks off at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 31, at Maracanã Stadium.
Brazil will play their first of two pre-2026 World Cup friendlies against Panama at the Maracanã Stadium on Sunday, May 31. This match serves as a farewell to their home supporters before heading to North America.
Despite the absence of their all-time leading scorer Neymar Jr. due to injury, Brazil aims to secure an emphatic victory. The team is focused on winning their sixth World Cup title on U.S. soil, though they are not considered clear favorites.
Panama, under Thomas Christiansen, has become a strong force in North and Central America, aiming to improve on their previous World Cup performance. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET.
Following this match, Brazil will face Egypt on June 6 in the U.S. before beginning their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13. Panama will play two more friendlies, including a match against the Dominican Republic on June 3.
