Neymar has cleared Erling Haaland to play against Norway, Carlo Ancelotti confirms

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Neymar is fully fit and available for selection in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 against Norway, raising hopes of a starring role for the veteran in the knockout stages.The five-time champions booked their place in the last 16 with a dramatic 2-1 win over Japan in the round of 32 thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage time winner. However, Neymar did not feature in the competition as he continued to recover from a right calf injury.

Neymar’s World Cup campaign has so far been hampered by fitness concerns. The 34-year-old made just one appearance at the tournament, coming off the bench for 14 minutes during Brazil’s group stage victory over Scotland.In an interview with Folha de S. Paulo, as quoted by Goal. com, Ancelotti said the Brazilian star is now ready to contribute whenever needed.“The important thing is that he is available to play. Nobody knows how long he will play. He has the experience to handle his minutes and the pace of the game. When I feel the team needs him, I will put him on the pitch,” Ancelotti said.When asked if Neymar is able to last the whole match, the Brazilian coach gave a straightforward answer.“Yes. He can play 90 minutes.”

“Important figure in the team”

Ancelotti also praised Neymar’s influence in the dressing room, highlighting both his footballing quality and team leadership.“He is training very well. Neymar is very respectful, friendly and loved by his teammates. He is an important figure in the team because he has immense qualities and is a very humble person. I am very happy with him. It is obvious that he wants to play, as always,” he said.The veteran manager added that although Neymar has not openly demanded a place in the starting line-up, his desire to return to action is evident.“He doesn’t say directly: ‘I want to play’, but the desire is quite clear. And it’s a positive thing. A player can’t be happy sitting on the bench,” added Ancelotti.

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Brazil recorded their first ever World Cup win over Norway

Brazil will face Norway on Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The South American giants enter the competition as favorites after overcoming Japan in the previous round. Meanwhile, Norway enjoyed a memorable campaign in their first World Cup appearance since 1998. They reached the knockout stages with a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal.However, history offers Norway confidence. Brazil had never beaten the Scandinavian side in four previous meetings, including a famous 2-1 defeat at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.