Brazil will meet Norway in the World Cup round of 16 with a change to its starting lineup. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has picked Gabriel Martinelli to replace Lucas Paquetá, who is out with a left thigh injury. The change was confirmed hours before kickoff at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. It is the only alteration to the side that secured qualification against Japan. The match is scheduled for 5 July 2026.
Martinelli, an Arsenal forward, earned his place by scoring Brazil's decisive goal in the previous match, a 2-1 victory over Japan. He struck in the 95th minute. Paquetá had gone off at halftime, with Endrick coming on in his place. Those moments set up the change for the knockout tie: Martinelli provided Brazil's late breakthrough, while Paquetá's exit opened a spot in the side.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said scans on the Tuesday after the Japan match confirmed “a muscle injury to the back of his left thigh.” Paquetá would receive “an intensive treatment programme under the supervision of the national team’s medical staff,” the CBF said, with the aim of returning as soon as possible. The CBF gave no recovery timetable, and the injury had not prompted a formal withdrawal from Brazil's tournament squad.
Martinelli's selection follows regular involvement throughout the tournament. ESPN's Brazil squad statistics list him with four appearances, three starts and one goal. Paquetá had also appeared four times, starting each match and scoring once. The figures highlight the contrast: Martinelli has been a regular in the rotation, while Paquetá had started every game before his injury.
Competition for the vacant spot was intense. Danilo Santos of Botafogo was also tested in training earlier in the week, but Martinelli started in the final sessions before the match. Brazil had used him in attacking tactical work ahead of its earlier Group C game against Haiti, alongside Vinícius Júnior, Igor Thiago and Luiz Henrique. The official lineup was revealed to the squad during Sunday's pre-match briefing.
Brazil's confirmed lineup to face Norway is: Alisson, Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães; Rayan, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Martinelli and Vini Jr. Martinelli is a natural attacker, but is expected to play slightly deeper, moving between the left and central zones when Brazil has possession.
Meanwhile, Raphinha has returned to training after recovering from a right thigh injury suffered against Haiti. The Barcelona forward joined the team for warm-ups, then gradually increased his involvement in group exercises. Despite that progress, Raphinha will start on the bench against Norway. The medical staff are aiming to get him fully fit for a potential quarter-final appearance. Ancelotti said Raphinha could play if needed, but would not last the full 90 minutes.
The match is scheduled for Sunday at 17:00 Brasília time at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. The winner will face either Mexico or England in the quarter-finals, scheduled for July 11 in Miami. The fixture comes after a series of dramatic knockout matches, including Switzerland's recent clash with Algeria, which drew attention for its intensity and the pressure on both teams to advance. For more on how other national teams are navigating the World Cup knockout rounds, see this analysis of Switzerland's campaign: Switzerland's high-pressure World Cup knockout match.
Brazil's approach reflects a wider trend toward tactical flexibility and squad depth among leading teams in the tournament. Adjusting lineups in response to injuries or form has become a decisive factor in the knockout stages. Martinelli now steps into a basic role, while Raphinha nears full fitness, as Ancelotti's side looks to maintain momentum in the competition.
