Brazil coach Tite announced his 23-man squad for the final two South American World Cup qualifiers on August 26.
West Ham midfielder Paqueta was selected for the first time in a year, while several star players, including Neymar, Vinicius, and Rodrigo, were not selected.
Brazil Has Already Secured World Cup Qualification
Currently, Brazil has won 7, drawn four and lost 5 in the qualifiers, ranking third in the South American standings, and has already secured a place in the World Cup finals to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.
Neymar Out Of The Last Two Games Due To Injury
The 33-year-old Neymar has not played for the Brazilian national team in the past two years due to frequent injuries since returning to Santos in January.
Ancelotti said at a press conference about his omission: “Neymar suffered a slight injury last week. The last two games of the qualifiers will be challenging, so we need the best players to ensure that we can participate in the game at the highest level.”
According to Brazilian media reports, Neymar felt discomfort in his thigh during training.
Ancelotti added, “We don’t need to assess Neymar; everyone knows his status and ability. We hope he can fully recover so that he can return in the best condition in the future and help the national team.”
In fact, Neymar was called up by former coach Rivaldo Junior as early as March this year, but he had to withdraw from the game due to a thigh injury.
Vinícius Suspended, Will Miss September Matches
After Ancelotti took over as coach in May, Brazil played two matches in June, first drawing 0-0 with Ecuador and then beating Paraguay 1-0 thanks to a goal from Vinicius, thus securing a place in the 2026 World Cup.
However, the Real Madrid striker will miss the match against Chile in Rio de Janeiro on September 5 due to suspension, and will not need to travel with the team to the highlands to participate in the match against Bolivia on September 9.
Paquetá and Pedro Make Their Return
Meanwhile, West Ham midfielder Paqueta has finally returned to the national team after the Premier League Independent Commission dropped betting charges against him last month. Pedro, who joined Chelsea in July, has also returned.
Although Neymar and Vinicius were not selected, Brazil still maintained its competitiveness with the return of Paqueta and the addition of fresh blood.
The last two World Cup qualifiers are not only an opportunity to test the lineup, but also bring more adjustment and running-in space for Ancelotti.
