Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti shook things up with his squad announcement for the final two matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Italian named a 23-man list with several new faces, leaving out big stars such as Neymar Jr., Vinícius Jr., and Rodrygo Goes.

Already qualified, Brazil will face Chile on September 4 at the Maracanã and Bolivia on September 9 in the altitude of El Alto.

Ancelotti explains the absences

In a press conference, Ancelotti clarified that the decision came down to different reasons. On Vinícius and Rodrygo, he stressed that he already knows them very well and doesn’t need to see them at this stage. As for Neymar, his exclusion is tied to another physical issue: the forward is still undergoing treatment for an edema and has struggled to regain consistency since October 2023.

With no pressure to collect points, the challenge for Brazil is to use these matches to build a competitive squad. The absence of stars like Neymar and Vinícius marks a turning point, as the new generation steps in to claim a place on football’s biggest stage.