Brazilian soccer star Neymar (34, Santos) is finally set to step onto the World Cup ground once again.
According to the Associated Press and other outlets, Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar could play in the third match against Scotland, speaking after directing a 3-0 victory over Haiti in the second Group C match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, held Friday Korea time.
"Neymar will train individually tomorrow and is scheduled to join team training on Monday," Ancelotti said at a press conference. "He will be able to play in the match against Scotland."
Brazil, which defeated Haiti to top Group C with one win and one draw (four points), will play its final group match against Scotland on the 25th.
Brazil, the World Cup's most decorated nation with five titles, played its group matches against Morocco (a 1-1 draw) and Haiti without Neymar in this tournament. Neymar holds the record for the most goals by a Brazilian player in A-matches (79 goals in 128 caps).
He has already appeared at the World Cup three times (Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022). However, after injuring his right calf in a match for his club Santos last month, he has been focused on treatment and rehabilitation even after joining the Brazil national team for the World Cup in North America.
This led even Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to make a pointed joke that "Neymar is the world's first national team player to work from home," reflecting growing unfavorable views toward Neymar within Brazil.
The last A-match Neymar played was a South American qualifying match for the World Cup in North America against Uruguay in October 2023.
