Ancelotti Before Japan Match: We Prepared Like It's a Final

Brazil's national team coach praised Japan, who defeated them in an October friendly, and denied being in an easier knockout bracket, while also commenting on Neymar's physical condition.

After finishing first in their group, Brazil is preparing for their first knockout match at the 2026 World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti expressed great confidence in defeating Japan in the Round of 16, but at the same time praised their opponents, for whom he holds “maximum respect.”

“This isn't just an elimination, it's a direct one. There's no second leg. Brazil is fortunate to have many experienced players in this regard. The team possesses great wisdom for such matches. In this aspect, I am very confident.”

“That was a good experience for us to understand how competitive the Japanese team is. They also beat England in March. We have full respect for them and are preparing for this match like a final, because it truly is one. They are strong, but we are aware that we need to play well. As you recall, Japan beat us in November. They played a very strong second half. Obviously, we must take that into account now. We must respect their team.”

“I disagree. Every match is very difficult. There are many things to consider. The pressure is immense. We need to focus on each individual game. If we don't perform well tomorrow, we go home. I remain convinced that there is no clear favorite so far. It's possible some teams performed better in this first phase, but I don't see a standout favorite. This is a very evenly matched World Cup.”

“Neymar is recovering very well. I believe he has improved significantly over the last week. It's a shame he couldn't train with us the entire time. It's obvious he can play more than 15 minutes. A lot depends on the context of tomorrow's match,” Ancelotti said.