Brazil Manager Carlo Ancelotti Leaves Neymar, Vinícius and Rodrygo Out of Squad

 

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has named his 23-man squad for the final South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, leaving out Neymar, Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo. The Seleção, who are already assured of a place in the tournament, will face Chile at the Maracanã on September 4 before travelling to Bolivia’s high-altitude city of El Alto for their second match. Brazil currently sits third in the CONMEBOL standings with 25 points, level with Ecuador and just behind leaders Argentina on goal difference.

Ancelotti explained that Neymar was excluded due to an ongoing leg injury, while Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo were left out because he already knows their abilities well from working with them at Real Madrid. Vinícius Jr. is also unavailable for the first game through suspension and would only have featured in Bolivia. The coach stressed that this was an opportunity to give lesser-known players a chance to impress him ahead of next year’s Copa América preparations.

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Among the big names called up are Alisson, Marquinhos, Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Raphinha and Richarlison, alongside new faces such as Chelsea teenager Estêvão and Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha.

The decision not to include Brazil’s three biggest attacking stars reflects Ancelotti’s desire to widen his player pool ahead of major competitions. “I want to look closely at players I don’t know as well on a personal level,” the Italian coach said, suggesting that the absence of Vinícius and Rodrygo was more about experimentation than form. Neymar, meanwhile, has not featured for Brazil since October 2023 and continues his recovery from long-term injuries.

One of the most notable returns is West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who is back in the squad after more than a year. He had been sidelined from selection during an ongoing investigation into possible betting irregularities but has now been recalled. Chelsea’s Estêvão, only 17, also makes the squad in what could be a glimpse of Brazil’s future frontline.

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Brazil’s squad mixes experienced internationals such as Casemiro, Marquinhos and Alisson with emerging names like João Pedro, Kaio Jorge and Luiz Henrique. The emphasis is on evaluating depth across positions, particularly in attack, where Neymar, Vinícius and Rodrygo would normally dominate.

For Ancelotti, the matches against Chile and Bolivia are less about qualification   already secured   and more about shaping a balanced, competitive squad for the years ahead.