Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Santos superstar Neymar Junior will be fit to face Scotland in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C clash on Wednesday (June 24).
Neymar, 34, has yet to feature in his fourth FIFA World Cup, with him nursing a calf injury now. The attacking midfielder has missed Brazil‘s first two Group C games, a 1-1 draw against Mexico and a 3-0 win over Haiti.
Thanks for the submission!
After the end of his team’s dominant victory this Friday (June 19), Ancelotti claimed that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward is set to play his 14th FIFA World Cup game. He said (h/t ESPN):
“He will train individually tomorrow (Saturday). On Monday, he will be with the team (for team training) and he will be ready for the game against Scotland.”
The Santos forward, who is Brazil’s all-time highest goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has yet to practice with his compatriots in full sessions. His inclusion in the squad led to debate in Brazil over whether the 34-year-old should have been called up for the tournament.
Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior, however, is hoping for Neymar’s return in the upcoming match against Scotland in Miami Gardens, Florida. He insisted during a post-match interaction on Friday (h/t ESPN):
“He is a very important player for us. We hope he can play in the next match. We are happy with his progress. Having him with the group is very important for all of us. He is my idol and has always given me a lot of support. I hope he comes back for the next game and helps us throughout the World Cup.”
Since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in October 2023, Neymar has struggled with both his fitness and form. He endured an injury-stricken 2025 at Santos and has registered six goals and four assists in 15 club matches across all competitions so far in 2026.
Who will Neymar replace in Brazil’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup contest?
Earlier this Friday, Brazil and Barcelona winger Raphinha was taken off in the 40th minute of the 3-0 win against Haiti. He was replaced by Bournemouth star Rayan, who made his FIFA World Cup debut in Philadelphia.
In a statement, the Brazilian federation has said (h/t ESPN):
“Raphinha felt pain in his right hamstring during the first half of the match against Haiti. The player has begun treatment and will be re-evaluated. We will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.”
With Raphinha expected to miss the contest on Wednesday, Neymar could feature in his fourth edition of the tournament against Scotland.
Edited by Debkalpa Banerjee