Neymar is on track to make his highly anticipated 2026 World Cup debut after being sidelined for Brazil’s opening matches. While the 34-year-old forward initially sat out the Seleção’s 3-0 victory over Haiti to prioritize his recovery from a pre-tournament calf strain, manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the superstar has returned to full tactical training at the team’s base.

Ancelotti and the medical staff have carefully managed Neymar’s workload, keeping tournament longevity in mind given that the veteran attacker has not featured in a competitive match for the national team since October 2023. However, with Brazil needing a positive result against Scotland to secure the top spot in Group C, the manager has thrown the doors open for his return, declaring him fit to contribute anywhere from a second-half cameo to a full 90 minutes.

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Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad - the complete list:

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson, Weverton

Defenders: Alex Sandro, Bremer, Danilo, Douglas Santos, Gabriel Magalhães, Ibañez, Leo Pereira, Marquinhos, Wesley

Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Danilo, Fabinho, Lucas Paqueta

Forwards: Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Neymar, Raphinha, Rayan, Vinícius Júnior

Neymar convinces Carlo

Neymar is Brazil’s highest ever scorer, with 79 goals in 128 caps, but has not played for the five-time world champions since October 2023, shortly before suffering a serious knee injury that sidelined him for a year.

Until now, Neymar had not made any final Brazil rosters under Ancelotti, who was hired in May 2025. Speaking in March, the Italian pointed to the fitness issues that have continued to affect the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward.

Amid renewed knee trouble, indeed, Neymar was sidelined for Santos’s first 10 games in 2026, before finally returning in mid-February. In all, he has appeared in only 15 of the Brazilian club’s 31 matches so far this calendar year, registering six goals.

Brazil’s Group C schedule and results:

• Brazil 1-1 Morocco
• Brazil 3-0 Haiti
• June 24: Scotland vs Brazil, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL

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