Brazil survived a thriller to beat Japan 2-1 in a dramatic last-32 match at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, June 29, to advance to the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite the victory, one notable absentee was Neymar Jr. The Brazilian superstar remained on the bench throughout the game, raising questions as to why manager Carlo Ancelotti chose not to bring him in.Explaining his decision after the game, Ancelotti revealed that he planned to only use Neymar if the game went into extra time.“I spoke to Neymar. If we didn’t draw, he would have come on in the 60th minute. Since we were tied, I kept him in the 30 minutes of extra time,” Ancelotti told the broadcaster.Extra time was no longer needed as Brazil found the winner in stoppage time, meaning Neymar was not available despite being fit enough to feature. Ancelotti later confirmed that the experienced striker had been part of his contingency plan, but ultimately it was not needed.Brazil now turns its attention to the round of 16, where they will face the winner of Norway’s clash with Ivory Coast on July 3 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner early on as Brazil staged a thrilling second-half comeback to beat Japan 2-1, who had shocked the five-time world champions in the first half when Kaishu Sano intercepted a loose ball deep inside their own half. Sano started off with a brilliant 40-yard solo run before firing a fierce shot past Alisson to make it 1-0.Ancelotti also praised Japan for suppressing Brazil throughout the match and said his team still needed to improve despite reaching the knockout stages.“Japan made us suffer for ninety-five minutes. They deserve our respect, not exaggerated celebrations. Brazil advanced, but we know we have to improve. Tonight we celebrate advancement, but tomorrow we will get back to work because the World Cup will only get more difficult from here,” he said.
