Neymar will come off the bench and score a free-kick goal against Japan in the FIFA World Cup clash, predicted Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand. The match is set to take place on a date to be determined.
What happened?
Neymar made his first 2026 FIFA World Cup appearance as a substitute against Scotland. He was named among the substitutes for Brazil’s Round of 32 clash against Japan.
Why it matters for Neymar
Neymar missed his country’s first two World Cup matches due to a calf injury suffered on May 17 while playing for Santos. He is the all-time top scorer for the Brazil men’s national team.
What comes next?
Ahead of kickoff against Japan, Ferdinand boldly predicted Matheus Cunha and Vinicius Junior to score and added that Neymar will find the net from a free-kick. Brazil boss Ancelotti refused to comment on Japan striker Kento Shiogai’s remarks about Neymar.
Neymar has not featured for the Seleção since 2023, missing out on their 2024 Copa America campaign and their qualifying matches leading to the 2026 World Cup. Despite being plagued with injuries in recent years, he holds the record for the all-time top scorer for the Brazil men’s national team.
Brazil finished top of the group after drawing Morocco and securing wins against Haiti and Scotland. The match in Houston marks the first time Brazil and Japan have met in a knockout stage of the World Cup.
Japan striker Kento Shiogai sparked furore among Brazil fans after saying Neymar no longer possesses the threat he once had. Brazil captain Marquinhos felt there was a bit of disrespect towards the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain man.
The last time the two nations met was in a friendly match last October in Tokyo. It was the Samurai Blue who emerged victorious as they came from behind to claim a 3-2 victory. Should Brazil get past Japan, they will play the winners of the clash between Ivory Coast and Norway in the Round of 32.
Brazil have not lit up the stage since their triumph in 2002. They progressed to the knockout rounds in the 2022 edition but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Croatia. Since 1966, Brazil have qualified for the Round of 16 in every edition of the World Cup.
They are also the only team that have qualified for every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1930. Rio Ferdinand wrote on X, “Let’s goooo Brazil!!! Cunha + Vini scoring Neymar off the bench with a free kick in top bins. Feeling it ⚽️🔥”