Carlo Ancelotti has announced his first squad selection as Brazil’s head coach ahead of the June fixtures for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The 65-year-old Italian, who recently took over the national team following his departure from Real Madrid, left several key players, including Neymar, Rodrygo, Ederson, and Joelinton, out of the squad.
Ancelotti, who becomes Brazil’s first-ever permanent foreign head coach, will lead the team against Paraguay and Ecuador next month in their quest to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Among those called up is midfielder Casemiro, who has been absent from the national side for some time. The squad also includes two promising young talents, Antony and 17-year-old William Estevão.
Ancelotti’s squad for the World Cup Qualifiers is as follows: Goalkeepers: Alisson, Bento, Hugo Souza
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Ribeiro, Lucas Beraldo, Carlos Augusto, Danilo, Léo Ortiz, Marquinhos, Vanderson, Wesley
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira, Andrey Santos, Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Ederson, Gerson
Forwards: Antony, William Estevão, Gabriel Martinelli, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinícius Jr.
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Addressing the absence of Neymar, Joelinton, Ederson, and Rodrygo, Ancelotti, regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time, said the players were left out due to injury.
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“Neymar’s out of the list as he’s just returned from injury. I spoke to Ney, and we’ve agreed on this,” Ancelotti told Fabrizio Romano. DAZN reported on 24 May that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo left training after experiencing pain in the back of his left thigh.
Since sustaining the injury, Rodrygo has not featured for Real Madrid, and he could depart the club if a suitable offer arrives. Ancelotti, who replaced Dorival Júnior following his dismissal at the end of March after a 4–1 defeat to Argentina, pledged to restore Brazil to championship glory during his unveiling on Monday.
Brazil will rely on Ancelotti’s expertise in their next two fixtures as they aim to climb from fourth place in the South American World Cup qualifiers and secure a spot among the top six teams for direct qualification.
The national team’s struggles began over two years ago when they were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals. Since then, Brazil have lost five of their last 14 matches, conceding 16 goals in the process.
Ancelotti, who expressed pride in leading the national side, emphasised the importance of the upcoming games. He added that he would select players who are both prepared and motivated to help the team achieve victory.
He said, “People want me to do a good job and win the World Cup again. Given my past achievements, there’s an expectation for me to lift the trophy. But I hope the nation will support the team, as that support is crucial.”
