Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed the availability of Neymar Jr for Brazil in the game against Scotland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Brazilian winger initially missed the first two games due to a calf strain, and he was under observation until he was fit. Neymar did train individually ahead of the fixture against Haiti, but they weren’t willing to risk his full fitness for the game. He will be looking to make his impact against Scotland, and he could start on the bench. This has been the news that the whole of Brazil has been waiting for, and Neymar will be looking to reclaim his throne in football’s most glorious stage.

“Neymar can play, he’s training very well, and he’s ready. I am very happy with him”, said Carlo Ancelotti. Brazil will be undergoing a tactical dilemma regarding their starting squad and the position that Neymar could start in. The injury of Raphinha would have been terrible news for the side, but, on the contrary, it would have just eased things up for Ancelotti in his squad selection. Neymar was declared fit to play the entire 90 minutes of the game, but there is still a lack of clarity regarding his place in the starting squad. It would be interesting to see if Brazil would go with Rayan or Neymar in their squad to fill in the place of the Barcelona star winger.

Brazil await Neymar's emotional World Cup return

Despite Brazil having a fine start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the fans are still eager to see Neymar in action for the side. The Santos winger has been an integral part of Brazil’s squad right from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Every time, Neymar has shouldered the responsibility of the entire nation, but he has fallen agonisingly short every time. The inclusion of the Brazilian icon in the squad was celebrated by fans across the world, and his first appearance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be emotionally overwhelming for the fans.

The five-time World Champions kicked off their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought draw in the opening game against Morocco. Their performance was heavily criticised by the experts due to the sloppy passing and the lack of chances created in the final third. However, Brazil bounced back in their game against Haiti as Matheus Cunha scored a brace and Vinicius Jr scored with a clinical finish. The 3-0 victory against Haiti helped them to secure a bigger goal difference than Morocco, handing them the 1st place in the group as it stands.

The return of the “Prince” of football will complete the presence of the magical trio of the generation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There have been reports coming in stating that Neymar looks as focused as ever and that he is willing to give it his all in this edition of the tournament. Brazil will be hoping that the magician could work his wonders in the tournament once again to help the side win their 6th FIFA World Cup title.