Brazil’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign is set to receive a major boost after head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar is expected to return for the Seleção’s decisive Group C clash against Scotland. The announcement ends weeks of speculation surrounding the fitness of Brazil’s talismanic forward, who has yet to feature in the tournament due to injury.
The 34-year-old superstar has been sidelined since suffering a calf strain while playing for Santos on May 17. The injury forced Neymar to miss Brazil’s opening two World Cup matches, including the hard-fought 1-1 draw against Morocco and the convincing 3-0 victory over Haiti. Despite his absence, Brazil managed to stay on course for qualification, but the prospect of Neymar’s return significantly strengthens their chances moving forward.
Signs of Neymar’s recovery have been increasingly positive in recent days. Earlier this week, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward was spotted participating in training sessions in Morristown, New Jersey. Wearing full training gear, Neymar briefly joined his teammates on the pitch and even shared a playful moment with reporters.
“Did you miss me?” Neymar joked while passing through the training area, drawing smiles from both journalists and fans eager to see him back in action.
The Brazilian icon took part in team drills alongside several key squad members before continuing with an individualized fitness program under the supervision of the coaching staff. His progress has been closely monitored as Brazil prepares for one of its most important matches of the group stage.
Following Brazil’s dominant win over Haiti, Ancelotti delivered the clearest update yet on Neymar’s condition, confirming that the forward is on track to make his long-awaited World Cup return.
“Neymar will be training tomorrow individually and on Monday he’s going to be training with the rest of the team,” Ancelotti said during his post-match press conference. “He will be available for the match against Scotland.”
The news comes as a significant morale boost for the five-time world champions. Neymar remains one of the most influential players in international football and was instrumental during Brazil’s qualification campaign despite dealing with recurring fitness setbacks. In just four qualifying appearances, he scored two goals and provided three assists, showcasing the creativity and attacking threat that Brazil have missed in the opening stages of the tournament.
With qualification to the knockout rounds hanging in the balance, all eyes will now be on Neymar as he prepares to make his first appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His return could prove decisive as Brazil aim to secure a place in the next round and reignite their pursuit of a record-extending sixth World Cup title.