With just seven months until the 2026 World Cup, national teams are intensifying their preparations. Brazil’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has released his squad for the November international window, and the omission of Neymar has raised eyebrows.
As part of their World Cup buildup, Brazil will play two friendlies during the upcoming FIFA window: they will face Senegal on Saturday, November 15, and Tunisia on Tuesday, November 18. Although these African teams may not have Brazil’s history, both have already qualified for the tournament.
Ancelotti chose not to include Neymar in this lineup. Despite returning from injury and reportedly being fit, the coach has decided to leave him out again. It has been over two years since Neymar last played for Brazil, raising questions about his future participation in the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil’s call-up list
- Goalkeepers: Ederson (Manchester City), Bento (Athletico Paranaense), Hugo Souza (Flamengo).
- Defenders: Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Danilo (Juventus), Fabricio Bruno (Flamengo), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Wesley (Corinthians), Caio Henrique (Monaco), Paulo Henrique (Atletico Mineiro), Luciano Juba (Bahia).
- Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Fabinho (Al Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Andrey Santos (Strasbourg).
- Forwards: Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Estevao (Palmeiras), Vitor Roque (Barcelona), Joao Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Matheus Cunha (Wolves), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo).
Ancelotti’s reasoning behind the decision
In August, when Ancelotti also left Neymar out, he explained that the focus should be on Neymar’s fitness rather than on testing his skills. He stated, “We don’t need to test him. Everyone knows what he can do and the quality he has. What matters now is that he reaches full fitness to help the national team perform at its best in the World Cup,” at that time.
Although Neymar has recovered from his latest injury, Ancelotti has decided to proceed without him for now. This choice has garnered considerable attention in Brazil, especially as the World Cup approaches and the team has limited opportunities to refine their lineup.
When was Neymar’s last appearance for Brazil?
Neymar Jr.’s last match for Brazil occurred on October 17, 2023, during a World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay. His game ended early due to a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee before halftime. Brazil lost 2-0 in Montevideo, and this serious injury has kept Neymar off the field for the national team since then.