What's happened
Brazil has named a 26-man World Cup squad, with Neymar included after fitness improvements. Joao Pedro is omitted, drawing reaction from fans and clubs as Brazil prepare for group-stage matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
What's behind the headline?
What this means for Brazil
- Neymar has been repeatedly sidelined by injuries but has shown improved fitness this season, prompting coach Carlo Ancelotti to recall him for a 26-man squad.
- The selection keeps a core of attackers including Vinicius Junior and Raphinha, and positions Brazil as one of the favourites for a sixth World Cup title.
- Joao Pedro's omission has sparked debate, highlighting the balance Ancelotti must strike between form, fitness and squad balance.
What to watch next
- Brazil’s warm-up friendlies, and how Neymar performs in camp before their Group C opener against Morocco on June 13.
How we got here
Neymar, Brazil's all-time top scorer, has been battling injuries since 2023. He is returning to form at Santos, and his selection follows months of speculation about his fitness and place in the squad ahead of the World Cup in North America.
Our analysis
Al Jazeera (May 21, 2026) ; Al Jazeera (May 18, 2026) ; The Scotsman (May 19, 2026) ; France 24 (May 18 & 19, 2026) ; AP News (May 18, 2026) ; The Japan Times (May 18, 2026)
Go deeper
- Will Neymar’s fitness hold through the tournament?
- How will Brazil line up with Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha in attack?
- Who could benefit from Joao Pedro’s omission in the squad?
More on these topics
-
Neymar - Brazilian footballer
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known as Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team. He is widely considered as one of the best players in the world.
-
Carlo Ancelotti - Italian footballer
Carlo Ancelotti OSI is an Italian former professional footballer and a professional football manager who currently manages Premier League club Everton.
-
Brazil - Country in South America
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers and with over 211 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most
-
Brazil men's national football team - Men's national association football team representing Brazil
The Brazil men's national football team (Portuguese: Seleção Brasileira de Futebol), nicknamed Canarinho, represents Brazil in men's international football and is administered by the Brazilian Football Confederation, the governing body of football in Brazil. It has been a member of FIFA since 1923 and was a founding member of CONMEBOL in 1916. It was also a member of PFC, the unified confederation of the Americas, from 1946 to 1961. Brazil is the most successful national team in the FIFA World Cup, winning the tournament five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. The Seleção also has the best overall performance in the World Cup competition with a record of 76 victories in 114 matches played and 129 goal difference. It is the only national team to have played in all World Cup editions without any absence nor need for playoffs, and the only team to have won the World Cup in four different continents. Brazil was the most successful team in the now-defunct FIFA Confederations Cup, with victories in 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2013. In FIFA's ranking system, Brazil holds the record for most Team of the Year first ranking wins with 13. Many commentators, football experts, and former players...