Brazil Coach Ancelotti Questions Neymar’s 2026 World Cup Prospects.
Brazilian national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has cast doubt on whether Neymar will be part of the squad for the 2026 World Cup. Since taking over in May, the Italian has yet to select the former captain.
“If Neymar deserves to be in the squad and is better than others, he will play in the World Cup. But I don’t owe anything to anyone,” Ancelotti said Friday at a press conference in Washington following the draw.
Brazil has been drawn into Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.
Ancelotti emphasized that no single player will define the team. “If we talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players too. We have to think about Brazil with or without Neymar, with or without other stars. Our final squad will be decided after the FIFA fixtures in March.”
At 33, Neymar is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. Despite this, he has been a key figure for Santos in its battle to avoid relegation in the Brazilian league. On Wednesday, Neymar scored a hat trick for Santos even while dealing with a muscular injury and is expected to play again on Sunday against Cruzeiro.
Ancelotti also noted that Brazil currently lacks a clear “referential player,” a role Neymar has often filled since the 2014 World Cup. “We have one of the world’s best goalkeepers, top defenders, strong midfielders, and quality forwards. I don’t want players who just want to be the best in the world—I want players who want to win the World Cup,” he said.
Regarding Brazil’s group-stage chances, Ancelotti expressed confidence. “We can win all three matches. Our idea is very clear: to be competitive throughout the World Cup. The goal is to reach the final, and to do that, you’ll face very strong teams anyway.”
Brazil’s last World Cup victory came in 2002, one of their record five trophies.
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