- Brazil meets Japan in the round of 32 Thursday in Houston — Neymar is back on the bench after a 14‑minute cameo vs. Scotland but has yet to start at the 2026 World Cup.
- He missed Brazil’s first two group games with a calf injury sustained May 17 for Santos and returned to action on June 24, so his fitness is a talking point.
- Brazil is playing to extend its long World Cup streak (round of 16 in every tournament since 1966; never missed the modern group‑stage era since 1986); a win would set up a tie vs. the Ivory Coast–Norway winner.
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