Coached by the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil will be one of the favourites to win the tournament next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

They will face a South Korea side captained by Son Heung-min at the 66,000-capacity Seoul World Cup Stadium on Oct 10, the Korea Football Association said late Tuesday.

The Brazilians last visited South Korea for a friendly in June 2022, ahead of the Qatar World Cup, and thrashed the hosts 5-1 with Neymar scoring twice from the penalty spot.

Ancelotti’s men will then play Japan at Tokyo Stadium, which has a capacity of just under 50,000, on Oct 14, the Japanese FA said.

Neymar again scored from the spot as Brazil won 1-0 in the Japanese capital in June 2022.

The 33-year-old Neymar has not worn the Brazil jersey for nearly two years because of repeated injuries and did not make Ancelotti’s latest squad.