Brazil had some work to do heading into their final Group Stage match against Scotland but the team has officially advanced to the Round of 32. Who will Brazil play in the next round of the World Cup?
Brazil has officially won Group C as expected. The squad now heads to Houston for their Round of 32 match against the Group F runner-up on June 29.
Heading into the Group Stage finale, The Athletic’s computer model gave Brazil a 65% chance to win the group, while Morocco was a distant second at 28%. Brazil had a 19% chance to be the Group C runner-up.
Let’s take a look at Brazil’s potential upcoming World Cup schedule.
Brazil’s Schedule: Most Likely Round of 32 Matchup Is vs. Japan
There is still a lot of football left to be played, but the early projections have Brazil playing Japan in the next round. Japan has a 44% chance to be the Group F runner-up, per The Athletic.
The Netherlands are also a possibility with a 36% chance to be in second place. Finally, Sweden has a 20% chance to be the Group F runner-up.
Who Would Brazil Have Played If the Team Did Not Win the Group?
If things did not go as planned, Brazil would have headed to Monterrey, Mexico as the Group C runner-up. In this scenario, Brazil would still play their next match in the Round of 32 on June 29, against the Group F winner.
The Netherlands are the most likely team to wear the Group F crown at 63%. Japan is also a possibility at 30%, while Sweden has an 8% chance to win the group.
Who Would Brazil Play in the Round of 16?
Let’s be a bit optimistic on Brazil’s behalf. If Brazil wins their Round of 32 game, who would the team play in the Round of 16?
Brazil would play in New York on July 5, if the team is able to advance to the Round of 16. Some potential opponents at this stage include Ivory Coast, Norway and even a slight chance for France if the team does not win their group.
Neymar Begins His World Cup Quest With Brazil
Despite all the uncertainty, Brazil insisted there will be no scoreboard watching during the final Group Stage day. All eyes were on Neymar who was available to play for the first time during the 2026 World Cup, but there was no guarantee the star will see the field against Scotland.
Indeed, Neymar was a late sub to make his 2026 World Cup debut against Scotland.
“He is available, he trained very well this week, he is fit and able and ready to play,” Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti told reporters on June 23, per ESPN. “We are very happy that he is back, he is a high-quality player.
“He can play half the time or the whole 90 minutes. He is very well, he worked very, hard so he is ready. His attitude is very good,” Ancelotti added.
“He is in very good spirits, he’s a good player and teammate. He’s very serious and we want to put him back to play as soon as possible. He brings experience and knowledge, he is doing very well.”
Brazil’s Next Game: Who & When Do They Play in World Cup Round of 32?