We are looking forward to it. We want to know who the 26 players are that Carlo Ancelotti will call up for the World Cup, which starts in June in the USA, Mexico and Canada and in which Brazil will seek sixth place.
We will only know on May 18th, which is the date announced by the Brazilian Football Confederation for the Italian to say name by name.
Until then, there will be guesses and speculation, including whether or not Neymar will be present. This is part of sports journalism. We all, media professionals or not, wish we had a crystal ball, to predict the future and nail all the players.
In this case, it does not exist. What exists is an interpretation of what occurred and is occurring. From there, conclusions can be drawn with greater precision. And some bets are made.
Ancelotti, since taking over the Brazilian team, in May 2025, has called up 55 players. The most recent list brought news, which shows that the coach has many doubts – yes, many, despite the contrary speech. They mix with certainties, also many.
Carletto made it clear in the post-call interview for this month’s friendlies against France and Croatia, the last ones before the list for the World Cup, that his starting defenders are Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães. Unstoppable.
Another guarantee: he said there will be nine defenders, including full-backs and defenders. Among them, the experienced Danilo, who plays in all rearguard positions, and Alex Sandro, clearly preferred on the left flank. Éder Militão, if fit (recovering from a thigh injury), also has a place, as he is a defender who plays well as a right-back.
Danilo’s case is peculiar, as he is a reserve at Flamengo. As he will go to the World Cup to be what he already is, a reserve, the choice is coherent.
Alex Sandro’s backup tends to be Douglas Santos, and the only right-back, Wesley. The reserves of Marquinhos and Magalhães, impossible to know. There are half a dozen candidates, none with an obvious advantage, none very trustworthy. Three of the positions were requested by Ancelotti now for the first time: the left-handed Léo Pereira and the right-handed Ibañez and Bremer.
The goalkeepers, it seems, will be those of this squad: Alisson, Ederson and Bento. Due to experience and/or attendance on calls.
In the middle, the midfielder duo is Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães, it is deliberate. Fabinho will be Casemiro’s backup, as Ancelotti believes he plays like Casemiro.
There are two other vacancies for the sector – in my calculation, there will be five. Another midfielder, most likely Andrey Santos, and the last chosen one… I think it will be Paquetá.
In attack (nine places), Vini Jr., Raphinha, Matheus Cunha and Estêvão are certain. The rest is a close fight. In my opinion, Ancelotti has a preference for Luiz Henrique, Gabriel Martinelli, Richarlison, Endrick and… Neymar (even without being present in any of the squads).
All of this is subject to not being unable to play due to injury and something that the Italian considers essential: being 100% physically in the middle of May – or with the expectation, as assessed by the team’s staff, of being 100% physically when the World Cup starts.
I listed 24 out of 26 names. All you have to do is say: I agree, disagree or “I’m going to consult the crystal ball, which, stop being skeptical, exists and works”.
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