Reports suggest Neymar travelled with the squad but has not yet been able to build normal training rhythm after the injury. That is the real concern here.
Even when fully fit, Neymar changes the geometry of a game. He drops into pockets, draws fouls, slows the tempo when needed and accelerates attacks with one pass. If he is unavailable, Brazil do not just lose a forward; they lose a reference point.
The journey to the United States is more than logistics. It marks the shift from buildup to execution.
Reports also describe a symbolic send-off before departure, underlining the scale of the occasion. But sentiment will quickly give way to training loads, recovery sessions and tactical decisions. The opening match is now close enough that every missed session becomes part of the story.
This is where squad depth becomes decisive.
The next few days will be about clarity. If Neymar progresses, Brazil gain their focal point back. If not, the opener against Morocco becomes an early test of their adaptability as much as their ambition. Either way, team news and training updates are now the next storyline to watch.