Brazil to face South Korea, Japan in October friendlies ahead of World Cup

Brazil will play international friendlies against South Korea and Japan in October as all three teams ramp up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Under Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil remain strong contenders for the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

According to the Korea Football Association, Brazil will take on South Korea on October 10 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, which seats 66,000 spectators. Their last encounter in Seoul, before the 2022 World Cup, ended in a 5-1 win for Brazil, with Neymar scoring twice from penalties.

Four days later, on October 14, Brazil will play Japan at Tokyo Stadium, which holds just under 50,000 fans, the Japanese Football Association confirmed. In their previous meeting in June 2022, Neymar scored the lone goal in a 1-0 Brazilian win, again from the penalty spot.

Neymar, now 33, has not featured for Brazil in nearly two years due to ongoing injury setbacks and was left out of Ancelotti’s latest squad.