Presented as Brazil’s coach in May 2025, Carlo Ancelotti said he was at the helm of the “best team in the world”. A year later, he will publish the names of the players he is betting on to complete his assessment.
The Italian will announce this Monday afternoon (18) the 26 called up to defend the yellow-green team in the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The list will be announced at an event scheduled for 5pm, at the Museum of Tomorrow, in the central region of Rio de Janeiro — Globo, SBT, SporTV, ESPN, CNN, CBF TV, ge tv and CazéTV will broadcast.
“What Brazilian football players and football cannot lose is its greatest quality: creativity, joy and energy”, declared Ancelotti, who, in the 12 months since his signing by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), has made an effort to get closer to Brazilian culture.
Sponsored by a beer brand, he was at the sambadrome on Avenida Marquês de Sapucaí to follow the parades of Rio de Janeiro’s samba schools during this year’s Carnival. And he said he saw the path to the sixth championship there.
“I noticed a lot of joy, a lot of energy, because people dance until the sun comes up, but also a great commitment from everyone in a popular party in which everyone feels part,” said the coach, presenting his team’s architecture: collective tactical organization and individual freedom to dance.
“If you watch the parade here in Rio, you will see that everything is perfectly organized — the rhythm, the music, everything is perfect. I want to bring these characteristics of the Brazilian people to the selection. Joy, energy, organization, commitment and attitude,” he added.
Ancelotti’s experience at the helm of the national team is still very brief. Owner of an exceptional CV, with multiple glories in club football, the 66-year-old coach had only ten games (five wins, two draws and three defeats) in the national team until the selection of the squad. Despite this, the expectations created by the professional themselves are high, who, in conversations with people close to them, expresses conviction regarding success in North America.
CBF directors are convinced of their competence to the point that the renewal of the contract until the 2030 World Cup has already been agreed. The announcement was made last Thursday (14). Now it’s time for another much-awaited announcement.
At this point, much of the list drawn up by the Italian is clear. Based on previous calls, the coach’s interviews and conversations in the CBF corridors, there seems to be room for doubt in the midfield and attack, with three places up for grabs.
In this scenario, 23 athletes have their places guaranteed or practically guaranteed. The situation is well designed in goal — although Hugo Souza, 27, from Corinthians, hopes to take the place of Bento, 26, from Al Nassr — and in defense — which will not have Éder Militão, 28, from Real Madrid, injured.
In midfield, Lucas Paquetá, 28, who was not in the last squad, gained strength in the final stretch with his performance at Flamengo. He started to threaten Andrey Santos, 22, from Chelsea, for the fifth place in the sector — Casemiro, 34, Bruno Guimarães, 28, Fabinho, 32, and Danilo Santos, 25, will most likely be on the list.
In attack, the dispute became more open after the serious injury to Estêvão, 19, from Chelsea, who is out of the World Cup — Rodrygo, 25, from Real Madrid, is another one removed from the fight due to physical problems. Ancelotti intends to take nine strikers to the United States, with seven of them apparently safe on the list.
They are Vinicius Junior, 25, Raphinha, 29, Matheus Cunha, 26, Luiz Henrique, 25, Martinelli, 24, Endrick, 19, and Igor Thiago, 24. João Pedro, 24, from Chelsea, was once more assured, but now faces strong competition from Rayan, 19, from Bournemouth, and Pedro, 28, from Flamengo.
There are, therefore, two places for three front players. Or would it be four?
There are, of course, those who defend Neymar.
The 34-year-old striker has not been called up once since Carletto’s arrival. Still, the Italian was unable to grant any interview without having to answer about the veteran, Brazil’s great reference in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The athlete had serious physical problems and has barely been on the field since the last World Cup. His return to Santos at the beginning of last year to regain his joy, form and football has yielded disappointing results so far, with new injuries, criticism of his behavior off the field, a slap in the face from an 18-year-old teammate and some moments of good football.
Since April, however, the old star has managed a reasonable sequence of matches — he played nine games in a month and a half, with three goals and two assists (UNTIL SUNDAY’S GAME, WHICH WILL BE THE TENTH IN A MONTH AND A HALF; UPDATE). It was enough for his call-up, previously discarded, to at least be discussed.
Ancelotti is always friendly when asked about the athlete. He praises his technical ability and states that his presence in the national team depends “solely” on physical conditions. Shortly after 5pm on Monday, we will know whether recent developments have convinced the coach.
“Neymar is an important player for this country because of the talent he has always shown. But he has had problems and is working to recover. Obviously, it is not an easy decision for me. We have to weigh the pros and cons carefully,” the Italian said this week.
Your ears will be open until the coach names the 26 names at the Museum of Tomorrow. If Santos’ number 10 is not said by then, it will certainly be very pronounced at the subsequent press conference.
