Neymar starts on bench for Japan vs Brazil World Cup knockout game

Brazil has decided to bench its star striker Neymar Jr yet again for their knockout Round of 32 matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston.

The 34-year-old footballer, who only returned to the national team after almost 1,000 days out injured, came off the bench in the final group game against Scotland as well.

Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar is “in good shape” and could play more than 15 minutes, but he wants to protect his fitness in this high-pressure knockout match.

“He’s in good shape. But it depends a lot on the game context and how things develop,” Ancelotti said, keeping the door open for a potentially decisive impact later on.

This comes as a surprise for many Brazilian fans as Japan has long been Neymar’s favourite opponent as he has scored a remarkable 9 goals against them in just five previous games.

Many fans were hoping to see him start and weave his magic once more against the Samurai Blue. Instead, they’re watching him wait on the sidelines as the starting XI was announced without him.

Brazil entered the match as clear favourites as they topped Group C, whereas, the underdogs Japan, who were runners-up in their group, had already struck early in the game.

The five-time world champions have work to do in the second half. With Neymar and other attacking options waiting on the bench, Carlo Ancelotti still has powerful cards to play. One well-timed substitution could change everything.