Will Neymar Jr play tonight for Brazil vs Japan in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Neymar came off the bench in the 75th minute during Brazil’s match against Scotland.
Brazil have received a timely boost ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 showdown against Japan, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirming that Neymar is now capable of playing a bigger role after recovering from injury.
The five-time world champions face an in-form Japanese side on Monday in one of the most intriguing knockout fixtures of the tournament. While Brazil topped Group C with seven points after defeating Haiti and Scotland following a draw against Morocco, Japan also entered the knockout stage unbeaten after finishing second in Group F.
As Brazil prepare for a tricky test, all eyes are on Neymar, who returned to action in the final group-stage match after missing the opening two games with a calf injury.
What did Carlo Ancelotti say about Neymar’s fitness?
Ancelotti stopped short of confirming whether Neymar will start against Japan, but he made it clear that the Santos forward is ready for a much greater involvement than the brief cameo he made against Scotland.
“Neymar has progressed very well. I think he improved a lot last week,” Ancelotti told reporters. “It’s a shame he couldn’t train the whole time he was with us.”
The Brazilian star came off the bench in the 75th minute during Brazil’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Scotland, receiving a huge ovation from the supporters as he made his first international appearance in more than three years.
Ancelotti believes the 34-year-old is now fit enough to feature for considerably longer than the 15 minutes he managed in that game.
“He can play more than 15 minutes. He’s in good shape. But it depends a lot on the game context and how things develop tomorrow,” the Italian coach added.
While Neymar’s improved fitness is encouraging, Ancelotti refused to reveal whether the veteran attacker would be included in the starting XI. Instead, he suggested that the match situation would ultimately determine how much the Brazilian icon plays.
Brazil will enter the contest as favourites, but Japan arrive with plenty of confidence after putting together a 10-match unbeaten run before the tournament and producing several impressive performances. Neymar’s availability, whether as a starter or an impact substitute, could therefore prove crucial as Brazil look to secure a place in the Round of 16.
Will Neymar play against Japan in the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Yes, Neymar is expected to feature against Japan. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the forward is fit enough to play more than the 15 minutes he managed against Scotland, although he did not reveal whether he will start.
Why did Neymar miss Brazil’s first two World Cup matches?
Neymar missed Brazil’s opening two group-stage games because of a right calf injury.
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A sports journalist for over 4 years, Triyasha has been covering Indian Football and Kanbaddi meticulously, She specialises in in-depth knowledge of the game, the players and the footballing infrastructure and heritage in India.