The surprise following the inclusion of Neymar was the absence of Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, with Ancelotti making it clear that it is a shame, but that he will have another opportunity down the road. “I am sad for players who have been left out, like Joao Pedro,” Ancelotti said. “They will have chances in the future.”

Joao Pedro is one of the biggest omissions from the Brazil roster that is generating excitement ahead of the World Cup. Pedro’s profile is exactly what screams Jogo Bonito and that Brazilian identity they have been searching for so much during this time.

Joao Pedro’s season

Joao Pedro has put together a season worthy of consideration, serving as one of the key players for Chelsea, who have not had a good season, though he has stood out above the rest. This season, he recorded 15 goals and five assists in the Premier League. Only Erling Haaland (34), Bruno Fernandes (28), and Igor Thiago (23) have directly contributed to more goals in the Premier League this season than Joao Pedro.

And he was left out, surely because of Neymar. He is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals and has represented the Selecao at three World Cups, including their home tournament in 2014. He has scored eight goals and provided three assists in 13 matches at the World Cup. Only Ronaldo (19), Pele (18), and Jairzinho (12) have directly contributed to more goals at the finals for Brazil.

Official Brazil World Cup roster

The squad managed by Carlo Ancelotti is one of the big question marks heading into the upcoming World Cup due to the poor performance they have shown in the Qualifiers and that lack of identity, but with the inclusion of Neymar and the rest of the call-ups, there is hope, even if, name by name, they do not compare to those of previous World Cups.

Here’s the Brazil World Cup roster:

Goalkeepers

• Alisson Becker, Liverpool
• Ederson Moraes, Fenerbahce
• Weverton, Gremio

Defenders

• Marquinhos, PSG
• Gabriel Magalhaes, Arsenal
• Gleison Bremer, Juventus
• Danilo, Flamengo
• Alex Sandro, Flamengo
• Wesley, Roma
• Douglas Santos, Zenit
• Ibanez, Al Ahli
• Leo Pereira, Flamengo

Midfielders

• Casemiro, Manchester United
• Lucas Paqueta, Flamengo
• Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle
• Fabinho, Al Ittihad
• Danilo Santos, Botafogo

Forwards

• Neymar, Santos
• Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid
• Raphinha, Barcelona
• Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal
• Matheus Cunha, Manchester United
• Endrick, Lyon
• Luiz Henrique, Zenit
• Igor Thiago, Brentford
• Rayan, Bournemouth

Notable omissions for Brazil

Aside from Joao Pedro, other players cause a surprise by being left out of the roster, players like Alex Telles, Thiago Silva, Everton Ribeiro, Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus, while also keeping in mind injured players like Rodrygo and Eder Militao.

“We spent the entire year analyzing Neymar. We realized that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition,” Ancelotti said. After battling plenty of injuries and his own age, Neymar was called up for 2026 World Cup but Carlo Ancelotti snubbed other Brazil players from Qatar 2022.

Not only that, but Ancelotti made clear the role Neymar will have in the tournament. “Neymar will be an important player for us at the World Cup,” meaning, he is not going for the sake of it, and he should see plenty of minutes.

Ancelotti snubbed some key names to get Neymar

Everyone was wondering which attackers would be called up to represent Brazil in the 2026 World Cup. When Neymar name was called, the place exploded in applause. However, there were some collateral damages.

For instance, two strikers from the Premier League like Joao Pedro and Richarlison will not go. Richarlison has taken a dip in form, but Joao Pedro was seen by many as a certain name to attend the World Cup. Now, he’ll have to wait until the next one.

Neymar can play different roles for Brazil in 2026 World Cup

While being 34 will get your speed away, Neymar is still talented enough to make his runs at the wing. However, he can play as a No.10, as a second striker, a false 9, or in desperate times, as the main man up front.

Neymar is not only very talented, but he has a huge skill set. Pair that to his knack for goals, and the intelligence to play in a variety of roles. Hence, Ancelotti can move him like a chess piece, and he will deliver.

The roster features several notable omissions, with the absence of seven 2022 World Cup participants. Alex Telles, Thiago Silva, Everton Ribeiro, Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus, and Fred won’t be able to represent the ‘Scratch du Oro‘ after Carlo Ancelotti opted to call other options instead of them. Dani Alves has retired from soccer.

Eder Militao and Rodrygo won’t take part due to injury. After all, Ancelotti is bringing a new style and new methods to Brazil. During Qatar 2022, the manager was Tite, so many changes have been made from the managerial side as well.

Brazil’s final roster for 2026 World Cup

Ancelotti previously gave his 55-man preliminary list, but now, he’s made official the 26-man final roster. The ‘Canarinha‘ is seeking its sixth World Cup championship. Brazil are the nation who have won it the most with five, followed by Italy and Germany with four, and Argentina with three.

Here is Brazil’s final 26-man 2026 World Cup list:

• Goalkeepers
  • Alisson – Liverpool
  • Ederson – Fenerbahce
  • Weverton – Gremio
• Defenders
  • Marquinhos – PSG
  • Gabriel Magalhaes – Arsenal
  • Bremer – Juventus
  • Danilo – Flamengo
  • Alex Sandro – Flamengo
  • Wesley – Roma
  • Douglas Santos – Zenit
  • Roger Ibanez – Al Ahli
  • Leo Pereira – Flamengo
• Midfielders
  • Casemiro – Manchester United
  • Lucas Paqueta – Flamengo
  • Bruno Guimaraes – Newcastle
  • Fabinho – Al Ittihad
  • Danilo Santos – Botafogo
• Forwards
  • Neymar – Santos
  • Vini Jr. – Real Madrid
  • Raphinha – Barcelona
  • Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal
  • Matheus Cunha – Manchester United
  • Endrick – Lyon
  • Luiz Henrique – Zenit
  • Igor Thiago – Brentford
  • Rayan – Bournemouth

Neymar gets a last chance to guide Brazil to the promised land

Neymar has played every World Cup for Brazil since 2014 but his efforts to give Brazil a World Cup have ended in heartbreaking fashion. In 2014, he was playing greatly, but an ill-fated tackle from Colombia’s Camilo Zuniga ended up injuring him and sidelining him from the semifinals vs. Germany, where they lost 1-7.

In 2018, Neymar and Brazil were on great track but they fell to Belgium’s golden generation with an outstanding game from Eden Hazard. They ended up losing that game, and in 2022, they drew 1-1 against Croatia with Neymar scoring in that match, but Brazil ended up losing in the penalty shootout. Now, at 34 years old, Neymar hopes to get a glorious swan song.

October 18, 2023 not only marked that the last time he saw action for the Canarinha, but it was also the last moment his name was called up until today. A name that many fans were calling for, while others were just as opposed to his presence.

That match was played at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Neymar suffered a devastating injury that kept him out of action for a long time: he tore the ligaments and meniscus in his left knee.

With the 2026 World Cup as the next major target, Brazilian fans now have plenty of reasons to be excited. One of their top performers in recent years will be present in the tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as Brazil look to secure their sixth World Cup title.

Carlo Ancelotti restores confidence in Neymar

Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 matches played. Despite this, coaches such as Mano Menezes, Fernando Diniz, and Dorival Junior left his name out of squad selections during this period, even Carlo Ancelotti himself.

“If Neymar is at 100 percent, he can obviously make it to the World Cup. If he is not in this latest squad, it is because I do not see him at 100 percent. Neymar has to keep working and playing, show his qualities and good physical condition,” the Italian manager had stated to the press following the latest friendlies.

Evidently, the 34-year-old Santos forward ended up convincing Ancelotti that he should be part of the national team in the big tournament.

Carlo Ancelotti’s selected forwards

In addition to the star presence of Neymar among the squad for the upcoming World Cup, Carlo Ancelotti also called up Vinicius Junior, Endrick, and Raphinha, blending experience and youth.

• Neymar – Santos
• Vini Jr. – Real Madrid
• Raphinha – Barcelona
• Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal
• Matheus Cunha – Manchester United
• Endrick – Lyon
• Luiz Henrique – Zenit
• Igor Thiago – Brentford
• Rayan – Bournemouth

Brazil’s 2026 World Cup schedule and opponents

Brazil will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign in Group Stage action with three distinct matchups in the United States. They open their tournament against Morocco on Saturday, June 13th, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Six days later, on Friday, June 19th, the Selecao will head to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to face Haiti. Finally, they will wrap up the group stage on Wednesday, June 24th, squaring off against Scotland at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Per a report from La Gazetta Dello Sport, details emerged via Ancelotti’s son Davide Ancelotti that Neymar was indeed part of the provisional list submitted to FIFA. “If he’s on that list, it’s because his physical condition is improving. Then, until May 18, we’ll reduce the list to the 26 who will travel to the United States,” Ancelotti’s son stated.

Now, the superstar has two high-stakes fixtures against Coritiba—spanning both the Copa do Brasil on May 13 and the Brasileirao on May 17—to convince Ancelotti that he deserves a spot in the final 26-man roster, which is expected to be announced on Monday next week.

His potential inclusion has ignited a firestorm across Brazilian social media, with Estevao’s injury in the middle and particularly after he was left out of the Selecao’s friendlies in March. For the former Barcelona icon, this represents a final opportunity to prove he is fit for what would likely be his World Cup swan song.

Neymar’s form with Santos this season

While the Brazilian faithful maintain a deep bond with Neymar, his individual brilliance hasn’t translated to team success for Santos. The club currently languishes in 15th place in the Brasileirao standings, managing just 18 points through 15 matches. Their continental form is even more dire, as Santos sit at the bottom of Group D in the Copa Sudamericana with a mere three points from four games.

Here is a look at Neymar’s statistical output during his current stint with Santos:

Neymar’s 2026 injury history

Durability remains the primary concern for Neymar, who has already been sidelined by two separate injuries in 2026. His absence has severely handicapped Santos, causing him to miss a critical Copa Sudamericana clash against Deportivo Cuenca and six matches during the Campeonato Paulista, stretches of inactivity that will surely weigh heavily on Ancelotti’s final decision.

Neymar was initially sidelined from January 9 to February 15 with persistent knee soreness, a blow that effectively derailed Santos’ Campeonato Paulista ambitions. More recently, he was placed on a specialized “rest and conditioning” program in early May to manage his physical workload ahead of the international break.

In an interview with L’Equipe published on Saturday, the Brazil manager admitted he understands why fans are clamoring for the Santos star, noting that Neymar has been working hard at the club level to earn a spot on the final roster.

“He is currently being evaluated by the Brazilian Football Confederation and by me. He still has two months to prove he has the qualities necessary to play in the World Cup,” Ancelotti said. “After his knee injury, he has come back strong. He is scoring goals. He needs to stay on this path and improve his physical fitness. He is on the right track“.

Neymar’s numbers this season

Since recovering from his ACL injury, Neymar has returned to action in impressive fashion. So far this season, the Santos icon has appeared in six matches across all competitions, recording three goals and three assists.

Despite the limited sample size, Neymar has consistently demonstrated his dual-threat ability as both a playmaker and a goalscorer, proving to Ancelotti that he is capable of reaching the elite level required for a place on the Brazilian national team’s flight to North America.

The push for one last World Cup

Since taking over the helm of the Seleção, Ancelotti has yet to feature Neymar, making it clear that the player’s limitations were purely physical rather than tactical. However, the former Barcelona and PSG star remains fully focused on the goal of competing in his final World Cup.

“I’m upset and sad that I wasn’t called up. But the focus remains—day after day, training after training, game after game,” Neymar said during a Kings League presentation in São Paulo. “We’re going to achieve our goal. There is still the final squad selection to come”.

The path back for Brazil’s all-time leading scorer will not be easy, as Ancelotti has spent recent windows integrating a new wave of talent. While established stars like Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, and Matheus Cunha are locks for the squad, younger players like Endrick, Joao Pedro, Luiz Henrique, Igor Thiago, and Gabriel Martinelli have all turned in strong performances, intensifying the competition for the final attacking spots.

As part of their buildup to the World Cup, the five-time champions scheduled two international friendlies for the upcoming FIFA window. They will face Senegal on Saturday, November 15, and Tunisia on Tuesday, November 18. While both African sides might not possess the same pedigree as Brazil, it’s worth noting that they have already secured qualification for the tournament.

For those matches, Ancelotti decided not to call up Neymar. Despite having recovered from his latest injury and reportedly being in good physical condition, the Italian manager opted to leave the Santos star out of the squad once again. It has now been more than two years since Neymar last represented Brazil, casting real doubt over his chances of featuring in the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil’s call-up list

• Goalkeepers: Ederson (Manchester City), Bento (Athletico Paranaense), Hugo Souza (Flamengo).
• Defenders: Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Danilo (Juventus), Fabricio Bruno (Flamengo), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Wesley (Corinthians), Caio Henrique (Monaco), Paulo Henrique (Atletico Mineiro), Luciano Juba (Bahia).
• Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Fabinho (Al Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Andrey Santos (Strasbourg).
• Forwards: Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Estevao (Palmeiras), Vitor Roque (Barcelona), Joao Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Matheus Cunha (Wolves), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo).

Ancelotti’s reasoning behind the decision

Back in August, when Ancelotti also chose to exclude Neymar from his roster, he addressed the situation directly. “We don’t need to test him. Everyone knows what he can do and the quality he has. What matters now is that he reaches full fitness to help the national team perform at its best in the World Cup,” he said at the time.

Despite Neymar’s recovery from his last injury, Ancelotti has once again determined that it’s best for the team to move forward without him for now. The decision has drawn significant attention across Brazil and beyond, as the World Cup countdown continues and the Selecao have only a handful of games left to fine-tune their squad.

When was Neymar’s last appearance for Brazil?

Neymar Jr.’s last appearance for Brazil came on October 17, 2023, in a World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay. Unfortunately, his night — and his qualifying campaign — ended prematurely when he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee just before halftime. Brazil went on to lose 2-0 in Montevideo, and the devastating injury has kept Neymar out of national team action ever since.

Neymar contradicted Ancelotti’s explanation for his absence from the Brazil squad. The forward argued that his physical problems were not as concerning as the coach suggested, despite Ancelotti insisting that fitness issues were the key factor behind his decision not to include the Santos star in the upcoming international window.

“I had an inflammation in the adductor. It was uncomfortable, but nothing serious. I even played today. Against Bahia last Sunday, I wasn’t going to play anyway because of suspension. So they just preferred to leave me out of training so I could recover,” Neymar explained after Santos drew 0-0 with Fluminense in a post-match press conference.

Ancelotti, however, maintained that Neymar was omitted for fitness-related reasons. Neymar dismissed that claim. “I think they left me out for technical reasons; I don’t believe it had anything to do with my physical condition,” said the forward, who remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances.

Will Neymar make it to the World Cup?

Ancelotti has yet to finalize his list of players for the World Cup. His arrival to the South American giants came at the start of the summer, but Neymar still appears to be one of his key options. The Italian manager underlined the importance of the forward during a press conference.

“We don’t need to test him. Everyone knows what he can do. Like the others, he must arrive in good physical condition to help the team give its best at the World Cup,” Ancelotti said. Neymar is fully aware of the standards he must meet, and everyone understands Brazil need him at his peak.

Brazil have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup. In the final double matchday of the Conmebol qualifiers, they will host Chile at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro before traveling to Bolivia. Those matches will serve as some of Ancelotti’s final tune-ups before the most important competition in the sport.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti, speaking at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, explained that Neymar was not included due to “a minor physical issue,” while Vinicius Jr. will also be unavailable due to a one-match suspension.

Brazil’s national team coach Carlo Ancelotti explained in a press conference that his main objective for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers is to get to know more players within his reach. “My idea is to get to know new players whom I don’t know well personally,” the Italian coach said, highlighting the major changes in his squad, which saw nine players from the previous call-up left out.

With Brazil having already secured qualification for next year’s World Cup, Ancelotti chose to call up players who have never been selected before or who have had limited opportunities. The move allows him to observe and test new talent as he evaluates options for the squad he will field in the tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Here is the full list of call-ups:

The real reason for the absence of Real Madrid stars

The absence of the Madrid stars is not due to any issues beyond availability and fitness. Aside from Vinicius Jr.’s suspension, Ancelotti explained that both Vinicius and Rodrygo were excluded because he already knows them very well, while Neymar was left out due to a new injury.

Ancelotti also emphasized the importance of fitness in his selection process: “A very important criterion for our staff is the physical aspect. Players in the national team must be 100% physically fit. This is a very important criterion for us. Because the competition in every position is very high—right-backs, defenders, midfielders, forwards. The competition is very intense. If a player isn’t 100%, I can call another without any problem,” he said.

Other “surprising” omissions include Eder Militao, who has only played 90 minutes after nine months recovering from injury, and Endrick, who is still rehabilitating.

Regarding Rodrygo, Ancelotti added: “Rodrygo, I obviously have a lot of affection for him, like everyone does. Yesterday he played very well with Real Madrid. It was his first game after a long time, so he has time to prepare properly and return to the national team.” While they could have been included for team bonding, Ancelotti sees this as the perfect opportunity to test new players and evaluate Brazil’s depth ahead of the World Cup.

Surprises and new call-ups

The squad announced Monday includes several players who have never been called up to the national soccer team, including Kaio Jorge of Cruzeiro, the current top scorer in the Campeonato Brasileiro. Among the surprises, midfielder Lucas Paquetá makes his return to the squad after not being called since investigations into his alleged involvement in a sports betting fraud network began.

In their final two qualifying matches, Brazil will host Chile on September 4 at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro and then travel to face Bolivia five days later in El Alto, at 4,100 meters above sea level. Brazil mathematically secured its spot in the 2026 World Cup in June with a victory over Paraguay in São Paulo, with Ancelotti already in charge of the team.

The 66-year-old Italian, who has faced or coached a lot of great players over his storied career, offered a thoughtful and measured response during an interview with CONMEBOL.

“I can’t say definitively because Pele belongs to a different generation. What Pele achieved in his career—on top of the World Cups he won—was something truly special,” Ancelotti explained.

“The others have been spectacular players. Starting with Ronaldo, whom I had the good fortune to coach, to Messi, whom I’ve seen, and all the others,” he continued. “But it’s difficult to choose. Based on what he achieved in his career, I believe Pele deserves first place”.

While Ancelotti didn’t provide an official ranking, his comments made it clear that Pele’s legacy—highlighted by three World Cup titles and his place among the game’s all-time top scorers—sets him apart in the GOAT conversation.

Ancelotti reflects on coaching Ronaldo Nazario

Later in the interview, Ancelotti was shown photos of himself with former Brazilian stars he coached during his time at AC Milan, including Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazario.

While he praised Ronaldinho’s technical brilliance, Ancelotti made it clear who he believed was on another level. “Ronaldinho was spectacular because of his talent. In terms of pure talent, ‘Rony’ was one of the greatest. But the greatest is this one—Ronaldo. In every sense, now,” Ancelotti said. “We had a great time together, unfortunately not for very long because he got injured, but I have very fond memories of Ronaldo”.

This isn’t the first time Ancelotti has praised Ronaldo. Upon his arrival in Brazil, the former Real Madrid manager told Globo Esporte that Ronaldo was the most talented player he had ever coached. “Technically, he was spectacular and one of the funniest people in the world,” Ancelotti added.

He also mentioned several other Brazilian players who left an impression on him throughout his career. “The most professional would be Cafu. And the funniest… There are a lot. Eder Militao makes me laugh a lot, and Vinicius Junior as well,” he said.

“I saw Neymar at the hotel and we hugged,” Ancelotti revealed during the post-match press conference following Tuesday night’s 1–0 win over Paraguay in Sao Paulo. The explanation is not a minor one, considering the coach’s decision to leave the forward out of the squad — a move he later justified by stressing the need for Ney to fully recover physically before being considered.

“When he’s healthy, he can play in any position on the field,” Carlo said when asked about Neymar’s potential role within this squad. “Today he could do the same job that (Matheus) Cunha did, as a number 10, and in that position he can be very dangerous.”

Ancelotti then discussed how he set up the team in his first games, pairing Vinicius Junior, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Martinelli, and Raphinha in attack. “Against Paraguay, we played with four forwards, but the team remained balanced. It’s not a problem to play with four, three, or two strikers — the important thing is to have ten players who run and make sacrifices,” the coach explained.

Finally, Ancelotti commented on two of the most important players who were absent during the June international break due to physical issues. “Rodrygo has done it many times and we know him very well. Neymar can do it too, without any problem,” said Carlo.

How is Neymar doing right now?

Earlier this year, Neymar Jr. returned to Santos to prioritize his physical and athletic recovery, aiming to reach a level that would allow him to rejoin the Brazil national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, the first few months haven’t gone quite as planned.

The forward has missed 10 of the 22 matches Santos have played since the transfer was finalized. And it’s not just the volume — Ney has been absent for key games and wasn’t able to help keep the club afloat in the Campeonato Paulista. On top of that, Santos are currently sitting in the relegation zone in the Brazilian league.

Brazil’s upcoming challenges

After clinching a spot in the next World Cup, Brazil still have two remaining matches in the South American qualifiers. They’ll face Chile and Bolivia in September — games that could serve as a testing ground for Carlo Ancelotti.

That stretch could present a good opportunity for Neymar to return to action with Brazil — something that hasn’t happened since his serious knee injury against Uruguay in October 2023. Of course, that would first require the forward to regain solid physical form and consistently perform well with Santos.