Why is Raphinha not playing for Brazil?

Raphinha is not playing for Brazil right now because he is not fully fit after a hamstring injury and, in the 2026 World Cup, has been either on the bench or left out of the matchday squad depending on the stage of the tournament.

What happened to Raphinha?

  • Injury type : He suffered a hamstring / biceps femoris tear in his right leg , the same type of injury that already sidelined him for five weeks at Barcelona in March 2026.
  • When it happened : The World Cup version of the injury occurred on June 19, 2026 , during Brazil’s 3‑0 group-stage win over Haiti in Philadelphia, when he limped off the pitch.
  • Medical view : Club and national team checks confirmed the tear and initially ruled him out for several matches; he was described as “not quite at 100%” but available in a limited role for later rounds.

Why he’s not starting (or not playing) in specific matches

2026 World Cup Round of 16 vs Norway (July 5, 2026)

In the Brazil vs Norway Round of 16 match:

  • Raphinha was available but started from the bench , not from the start.
  • Coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was “not quite at 100%” , so Brazil used him cautiously, potentially as a late option rather than a starter.
  • In some reports, he is described as not playing today in that match, meaning he may not have been on the pitch at all, likely due to fitness and tactical caution.

So in the Norway game, the reason is:

He is fit enough to be on the matchday sheet but not fully recovered, so Ancelotti chose to keep him off the start and possibly off the pitch entirely.

Earlier World Cup matches (vs Japan and others)

In the Brazil vs Japan Round of 32 match:

  • Raphinha was completely left out of the matchday squad , not even on the bench.
  • This was because the medical team had not yet cleared him for any playing time, given the severity of the hamstring tear and the risk of worsening it.

October 2025 friendlies (South Korea & Japan)

Before the World Cup, in October 2025 :

  • Brazil traveled to Asia for friendlies against South Korea and Japan without Raphinha because he was injured with a hamstring problem at Barcelona.
  • He was expected to miss about three weeks and hoped to return for club duty around mid‑October, with a possible national team comeback in the November break.

Is Raphinha out of Brazil’s World Cup campaign?

No, not necessarily.

  • Reports say his optimistic return date was Sunday, July 5, 2026 , which matches the Norway Round of 16 match, but even then he was only considered for a limited, bench role.
  • The medical team has been very cautious: he was undergoing intensive rehab (up to three sessions per day) at base camp in New Jersey to avoid a setback.

So depending on the exact match:

  • Some games: not in the squad at all (too injured).
  • Some games: in the squad but on the bench (not fully fit, used cautiously).

Quick summary

  • Main reason : A recurring right hamstring (biceps femoris) injury, first in March 2026 for Barcelona, then again in June 2026 at the World Cup.
  • Result for Brazil :
    • In some matches (e.g., vs Japan): he was not selected due to injury.
* In others (e.g., vs Norway): he was **available but started from the bench or not played** , because he was “not quite at 100%”.
  • Future : He could return for later World Cup matches if Brazil advances and his rehab continues without setbacks, but he is not expected to be a full-strength starter immediately.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.