Frank Christian
As we approach the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a year’s time, the Brazilian national team embarks on a fresh journey with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm for a minimum of the next 14 months.
After a remarkable seven-year tenure at Real Madrid, “Don Carlo” has accepted the position of Brazil’s head coach, stepping in right after the La Liga season’s conclusion.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has always held Ancelotti in high regard, and after facing coaching challenges and difficulties in World Cup qualifying, they have finally secured the Italian manager.
Currently, Brazil stands fourth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table; while they are still in contention for qualification, their performance lacks the authoritative style fans are accustomed to. The team aims to secure their place in the tournament while facing off against Ecuador and Paraguay, with only two additional qualifiers in September before the cycle wraps up.
Ancelotti’s initial squad selection turned heads as several seasoned players received a chance to return.
Brazil squad for the 2025 summer World Cup qualifiers
On Monday, May 26, the day he officially took over, Ancelotti released his first Brazil squad.
The Italian selected 25 players for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay, set to take place ahead of the 2025 Club World Cup.
Included in the squad are Manchester United veteran Casemiro, his teammate Antony, who has made a strong impact during his loan at Real Betis, along with promising talents Andrey Santos and Estevao.
Caps as of squad announcement
| Pos | Name | Club | Caps |
| GK | Alisson | Liverpool (ENG) | 72 |
| GK | Bento | Al Nassr (KSA) | 4 |
| GK | Hugo Souza | Corinthians (BRA) | 0 |
| DEF | Alexsandro | Lille (FRA) | 0 |
| DEF | Alex Sandro | Flamengo (BRA) | 40 |
| DEF | Carlos Augusto | Inter Milan (ITA) | 2 |
| DEF | Danilo | Flamengo (BRA) | 65 |
| DEF | Leo Ortiz | Flamengo (BRA) | 2 |
| DEF | Lucas Beraldo | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 3 |
| DEF | Marquinhos | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 97 |
| DEF | Vanderson | AS Monaco (FRA) | 5 |
| DEF | Wesley | Flamengo (BRA) | 2 |
| MID | Andreas Pereira | Fulham (ENG) | 9 |
| MID | Andrey Santos | Strasbourg (FRA) | 1 |
| MID | Bruno Guimaraes | Newcastle (ENG) | 33 |
| MID | Casemiro | Manchester United (ENG) | 75 |
| MID | Ederson | Atalanta (ITA) | 3 |
| MID | Gerson | Flamengo (BRA) | 12 |
| FWD | Antony | Real Betis (ESP) | 16 |
| FWD | Estevao | Palmeiras (BRA) | 4 |
| FWD | Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal (ENG) | 16 |
| FWD | Matheus Cunha | Wolves (ENG) | 13 |
| FWD | Raphinha | Barcelona (ESP) | 33 |
| FWD | Richarlison | Tottenham (ENG) | 48 |
| FWD | Vinicius Jr. | Real Madrid (ESP) | 39 |
Neymar left out despite speculation on Brazil recall
Neymar has yet to represent Brazil following his ACL injury sustained during a World Cup qualifier in October 2023 and was once again omitted from the squad.
The 33-year-old was initially included in March after returning from injury with his club Santos, but a hamstring injury forced him to withdraw.
He has recently returned to play, featuring for 26 minutes in a 1-0 victory against Vitoria on May 25. Due to his ongoing injury issues, Ancelotti likely chose to hold him back to ensure he regains full match fitness before joining the national team.
Ancelotti’s roster omits multiple key players
Ancelotti made significant choices in forming his initial Brazil squad, leaving several noteworthy veterans out.
Prominent absentees include Man City goalkeeper Ederson, who withdrew from March’s squad due to injury but has since recovered, and Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who has played under Ancelotti for years.
In Ederson’s place, Ancelotti has included uncapped Hugo Souza from Corinthians to support first-choice goalkeeper Alisson and backup Bento.
Rodrygo’s absence isn’t surprising given his lackluster season, but it’s still remarkable that Ancelotti opted against selecting not only one of his former Real Madrid players, but also young striker Endrick. Instead, he has called up Palmeiras prodigy Estevao, who has shown promise this season, alongside Man United loanee Antony who has excelled during his time at Real Betis.
Also missing from the lineup are West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta and Newcastle’s Joelinton, though the latter has been addressing a knee issue which may have influenced Ancelotti’s decision to leave him out. Furthermore, defenders Eder Militao and Bremer continue to recover from significant knee injuries, while Yan Couto was excluded after losing his starting position at Borussia Dortmund.
