Carlo Ancelotti has given Brazil a clear update on Neymar. The forward will train individually, join the squad on Monday and be available for Scotland in the group stage finale, which is the main development here. He has not represented Brazil since a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in October 2023 and is on course to make his first appearance for the country in almost three years.

Ancelotti's update on Neymar

Ancelotti told sportsmole.co.uk: "Yes, Neymar will train individually tomorrow. On Monday he will be with the team and then he will be ready for the game against Scotland."

He gave the same message to si.com: "Neymar will be training tomorrow individually, and on Monday, he's going to be training with the rest of the team. He will be available for the match against Scotland."

That is the part Brazil will care about most. Availability is not the same as a start, and the update stops short of saying Neymar is ready to begin the game in Miami.

The timing still matters for Brazil. They top Group C with 4 points from 2 matches and have a +3 goal difference, so there is no need to rush him back just to chase the game.

What it means for Brazil and Scotland

The selection picture has also been shaped by Raphinha's injury against Haiti. He was withdrawn in the 40th minute with an apparent hamstring problem, which gives Brazil another reason to keep their attack flexible rather than force Neymar straight into the XI.

For Santos, the club form is at least encouraging. Neymar has played only 15 matches for them in the 2026 campaign, but he has still scored 6 goals and provided 4 assists.

Scotland are not out of the picture either. They are third in Group C with 3 points after two matches, and a win over Brazil in Miami on Wednesday would guarantee a place in the knockout stages for the first time at a major tournament. Craig Levein told Sky Sports that even a 1-0 defeat could still be enough, although that route depends on the wider third-place permutations.

The clean read from this update is simple enough. Neymar is moving in the right direction, Brazil are in a decent enough group position to be patient, and the real question now is whether he is eased back against Scotland vs Brazil or left for a later step in the tournament.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →