Neymar set for Brazil return vs Scotland in FIFA WC 2026 Group C
Synopsis
Neymar is back — or nearly so. After 20 months away from international football, Brazil's all-time top scorer is set to rejoin the squad for a decisive Group C match against Scotland, with manager Carlo Ancelotti confirming his inclusion. With Brazil and Morocco level on points and goal difference separating them, Thursday's Miami fixture is about more than just a place in the knockouts — it's about where Brazil plays next.
Key Takeaways
Gabriel Martinelli confirmed Neymar is fit and motivated ahead of Brazil's FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match against Scotland on Thursday in Miami .
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Neymar will be in the matchday squad, though he is expected to start on the bench.
Neymar, 34 , last played for Brazil in October 2023 before suffering a ruptured ACL; he recovered from a subsequent calf strain last week.
He holds Brazil's all-time scoring record with 79 goals in 128 international appearances and has indicated this is his final World Cup.
Brazil leads Group C with 4 points , ahead of Morocco on goal difference ( 3 vs 1 ); a win secures top spot and keeps the squad based in New Jersey .
Gabriel Martinelli confirmed on Tuesday that Neymar is fit, motivated, and ready to feature for Brazil in their final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match against Scotland, scheduled for Thursday in Miami. The Arsenal winger's remarks offer the clearest signal yet that Brazil's all-time leading scorer is poised to return to competitive action after more than a year and a half on the sidelines.
Martinelli's Assessment
'He's at a very high level and eager to play,' Martinelli told reporters. 'Everyone knows his quality. We can see how motivated he is, and we're happy to have a player like him available and showing the attitude and desire he has been demonstrating,' the winger added.
Martinelli's words carry weight inside a dressing room that has rallied around the returning forward, whose presence — even from the bench — is expected to lift the squad's confidence heading into a decisive group fixture.
Ancelotti Confirms Squad Inclusion
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar will be named in his matchday squad for Thursday's clash, though the 34-year-old is almost certain to begin on the bench. Neymar resumed full training with the squad last week after recovering from a calf strain that had kept him out since May.
The calf issue came on top of a far longer absence — the Santos forward had not appeared for the national team since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in October 2023, a spell of nearly 20 months away from international football.
Neymar's Record and World Cup Legacy
Neymar remains Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 international appearances. He has previously indicated that the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the final World Cup of his career — a statement he made in response to a FIFA social media post captioned 'We've watched him grow up,' which featured images from across his career. The moment underscored the emotional weight this tournament carries for both the player and the country.
Group C Standings and What's at Stake
Brazil currently leads Group C with four points, level with Morocco but ahead on goal difference — 3 against 1. Finishing as group winners is a stated priority for the squad, and not merely for sporting reasons.
Martinelli explained the practical logic: 'We want to go to Miami and win the game to qualify in first place. Staying at the hotel here with all the facilities we have is much better. If we qualify in second place, we have to go to Mexico and that ends up changing the whole schedule. Our mentality is to win and stay here because of all the benefits we have. The training centre and the hotel are very good and we have a lot to do here together.'
The match against Scotland on Thursday represents Brazil's last chance to secure top spot and the logistical and preparation advantages that come with it. With Neymar potentially back in the fold, even from the bench, the Seleção head into the fixture with renewed momentum.
Point of View
And even a cameo appearance against Scotland would carry enormous symbolic weight for a squad chasing its first World Cup title since 2002. The more revealing detail, however, is Martinelli's candid admission about logistics: Brazil's preference for Miami over Mexico as a base camp exposes how much modern tournament football is shaped by off-pitch factors. Ancelotti's cautious bench-start decision is the right call — managing a player returning from both an ACL rupture and a calf strain at a World Cup is a high-stakes balancing act, and the cost of a setback far outweighs the benefit of an extra 90 minutes. The real question is whether Neymar can build match sharpness fast enough to matter in the knockout rounds.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Neymar playing against Scotland in the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Neymar has been confirmed in Brazil's matchday squad for their Group C match against Scotland on Thursday in Miami, according to manager Carlo Ancelotti. However, he is almost certain to start on the bench rather than in the first eleven.
Why was Neymar absent from Brazil's earlier World Cup matches?
Neymar had been recovering from a calf strain that sidelined him since May 2026. Before that, he had not played for Brazil since October 2023 due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, making this a return from an extended injury absence.
What is Brazil's current position in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C?
Brazil leads Group C with four points, level with Morocco but ahead on goal difference — three against one. A win against Scotland on Thursday would confirm Brazil as group winners.
Why does finishing first in Group C matter so much to Brazil?
Finishing as group winners allows Brazil to remain based in New Jersey, where they have access to preferred training and hotel facilities. A second-place finish would require the squad to relocate to Mexico, disrupting their preparation schedule.
Has Neymar said this is his last World Cup?
Yes. Neymar has indicated that the FIFA World Cup 2026 is the final World Cup of his career. He made the statement in response to a FIFA social media post featuring images from across his career with the caption 'We've watched him grow up.'
