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Carlo Ancelotti announces Brazil’s squad for their upcoming friendlies
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Neymar Jr omitted from the side due to poor form
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Premier League forwards Igor Thiago and Rayan rewarded with selection
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Neymar responds immediately on his exclusion
Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti has excluded Neymar from the squad for the upcoming friendlies as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The five-time World Champions will play France on March 27 and Croatia on April 1. They will also face Egypt on June 7, just a week before starting their World Cup journey against Morocco in the USA.
This World Cup is crucial for Brazil, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2022 tournament by Croatia in a penalty shootout.
With Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Brazil aims for a quick recovery.
Carlo Ancelotti Ignores Neymar; Premier League’s Igor Thiago And Rayan Rewarded With Selections
Neymar’s exclusion has drawn significant attention. The 34-year-old forward has struggled with fitness after tearing his ACL in October 2023.
In his last club match before the squad announcement, Neymar did not make an impact as Santos and Corinthians played to a 1-1 draw. He didn’t register any shots on target during that game, putting his World Cup spot in jeopardy.
Ancelotti has chosen to include English Premier League players Igor Thiago from Brentford and Rayan from Bournemouth due to their strong performances. Thiago is currently the second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League.
Neymar Upset And Sad But Determined
After the announcement, Neymar expressed his disappointment at not being selected for the friendlies during an event in Sao Paulo.
“I’m upset and sad, but my focus remains on training and matches. We have a goal to reach, and there’s still a chance for the final squad,” he said.
The final World Cup squad will be revealed on May 18, with a last warm-up match scheduled for May 31 against Panama in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil will take on France in Boston on March 27 and Croatia in Orlando four days later.
During the announcement, Ancelotti mentioned that he chose players who are fully fit. Currently, four players—Eder Militao, Bruno Guimaraes, Estevao, and Rodrygo—are sidelined due to injuries.
“This squad prioritizes players who are 100% fit,” Ancelotti commented. “We have key injuries to players like Eder Militão, Bruno Guimarães, Estêvão, and Rodrygo.”
Brazil’s Squad For Friendlies Against France And Croatia
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Fenerbahce)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Danilo (Flamengo), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma)
Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), João Pedro (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid)