Striker Raphinha had to leave the field earlier than expected during the Brazilian team’s match against Haiti. The 29-year-old player was replaced in the second half of the match, valid for the second round of Group C of the 2026 World Cup, after he reported severe pain in the posterior muscle of his right thigh, being replaced by Rayan.
The Brazilian team’s press office reported this Saturday (20) that the athlete has already started the treatment process for the injury and will undergo a new medical evaluation. Raphinha’s physical condition is a cause for concern about her remaining in the rest of the world’s main football tournament.
The possibility of Raphinha being removed from the 2026 World Cup due to his physical condition raises questions about a possible replacement in the squad. However, FIFA rules are strict and unfavorable to the national team in this scenario. The regulations of football’s highest governing body establish that the deadline for exchanging outfield athletes for Brazil ended 24 hours before the team’s debut game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
FIFA rules determine that, after the start of the competition, participating teams are prevented from making changes to their squad lists. This guideline aims to maintain the integrity of the dispute and applies throughout the duration of the championship.
A relevant exception in the FIFA regulations specifically concerns goalkeepers. Each team must have three archers in its squad, and only in cases of serious injury or proven illness is substitution for this position permitted. For the other players, if the cut is inevitable, the team will have to continue the competition with one less athlete in the squad.
After the 3-0 victory over Haiti, the Brazilian team is now preparing for the last match of the group stage. The next opponent will be Scotland, in a match scheduled for next Wednesday (24), which will take place in the city of Miami.