Brazil have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, the group is set, the schedule is known, and the final squad is locked in. Now the fun begins: the debates, the predictions, the nervous excitement, and the big question every Brazil fan loves to answer, is this the team that can bring the sixth star, the elusive hexa?
Carlo Ancelottiโs first World Cup squad as Brazil coach gives us the clearest picture yet of his Seleรงรฃo: experienced in key positions, dangerous out wide, and already shaped by injuries before the first ball is kicked.
Ancelottiโs first ten games in charge helped shape that decision. Brazil secured qualification, tested different attacking options, and saw injuries change the final picture. Rodrygo, Estรชvรฃo, and รder Militรฃo are the biggest injury absences, while Neymarโs return gives the squad its main emotional storyline.
Did Brazil Qualify for World Cup 2026?
Yes, Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup through the South American qualifiers.
That keeps alive one of the most famous records in international football: Brazil have played in every menโs World Cup. No other country has appeared at every edition of the tournament.
Qualification was confirmed under Carlo Ancelotti with a 1-0 win over Paraguay, when Vinรญcius Jรบnior scored the decisive goal. Brazil then finished the campaign with a 3-0 win over Chile and a 1-0 defeat away to Bolivia, still safely inside the automatic qualification places.
Brazil 2026 World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers:
- Alisson (Liverpool)
- Ederson (Fenerbahce)
- Weverton (Gremio)
Defenders:
- Alex Sandro (Flamengo)
- Danilo (Flamengo)
- Leo Pereira (Flamengo)
- Bremer (Juventus)
- Ibanez (Al-Ahli)
- Wesley (Roma)
- Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Gabriel (Arsenal)
- Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Midfielders:
- Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle)
- Casemiro (Manchester United)
- Danilo Santos (Botafogo)
- Fabinho (Al-Ittihad)
- Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo)
Forwards:
- Endrick (Real Madrid)
- Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
- Igor Thiago (Brentford)
- Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)
- Raphinha (Barcelona)
- Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
- Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg)
- Neymar (Santos)
- Rayan (Bournemouth)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

Players to Watch in the Brazil World Cup Team 2026
Brazilโs squad is led by established names in attack, midfield, and goal. Vinรญcius Jรบnior gives the attack its main one-on-one threat: pace, dribbling, direct running, and the kind of danger that makes a stadium hold its breath.
Raphinha adds width, work rate, and left-footed quality. Casemiro remains one of the major experience figures in midfield, especially in a tournament where control and leadership matter. Alisson remains one of the most trusted goalkeepers in the Brazil setup.
There are also several players heading to their first World Cup with something to prove. Endrick gives Brazil another young attacking option through the middle, while Igor Thiago arrives after forcing his way into the squad during Ancelottiโs final run of games. Rayan adds another fresh name to the forward line, and Wesleyโs inclusion makes the right-back position one to watch.
This squad is not only about familiar stars. It also gives Ancelotti younger players who can change a match from the bench, stretch tired defenders, or push for a bigger role as the tournament develops.
Players Who Will Miss Out
Brazil arrive with talent, but not without scars. Rodrygo, Estรชvรฃo, and รder Militรฃo are the three major injury absences, while Joรฃo Pedro is the biggest selection omission from Ancelottiโs final squad.
The attacking losses are important. Estรชvรฃo had become one of the standout players of the Ancelotti era, scoring five goals in seven Brazil appearances and emerging as the teamโs leading scorer under the new coach. Rodrygo also scored twice in the 5-0 friendly win over South Korea, giving Brazil another productive option across the front line.
Joรฃo Pedroโs absence is the most surprising call. With Rodrygo and Estรชvรฃo unavailable, he looked like a serious option for Brazilโs attack, but Ancelotti instead chose forwards such as Endrick, Igor Thiago, Matheus Cunha, Luiz Henrique, Rayan, Neymar, Vinรญcius Jรบnior, Raphinha, and Gabriel Martinelli.
รder Militรฃoโs absence affects the other end of the pitch, leaving Brazil without one of their most experienced central defenders. Other familiar names also missed out, including Richarlison, Savinho, Gabriel Jesus, Andrey Santos, and Thiago Silva.
The Neymar Question
Brazilโs most emotional squad decision was never just about football. Neymar is going to the 2026 World Cup.
His selection brings Brazilโs most famous modern player back into the centre of the story after years shaped by injuries, uncertainty, and debate. Neymar is Brazilโs all-time leading scorer, but he is also 34 and has spent recent years dealing with major injuries and long spells away from the national team. That made his call-up feel less like a routine selection and more like a final World Cup chapter.
Ancelotti defended the decision by pointing to Neymarโs improved physical condition, while also making it clear that he will have the same responsibilities as every other player in the squad. That matters: Neymar is not being presented as a museum piece or a sentimental passenger. If he is going, he has to help the team.
His inclusion also added to the Joรฃo Pedro debate, with English reports framing the Chelsea forwardโs omission as one of the biggest surprises of the squad announcement.
For Brazil, Neymarโs presence changes the feeling around the squad. He may not be the automatic centre of the team in the way he once was, with Vinรญcius Jรบnior, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, and others now carrying major attacking roles. But if this is Neymarโs last World Cup, every appearance will come with history attached: the old brilliance, the injuries, the pressure, and the final chance to chase the trophy that has always escaped him.

The Ten Games That Helped Ancelotti Pick His Team
Ancelottiโs strongest evidence came from Brazilโs competitive qualifiers. His first match was a 0-0 draw away to Ecuador, followed by a 1-0 win over Paraguay that secured Brazilโs place at the 2026 World Cup. Vinรญcius Jรบnior scored the decisive goal against Paraguay, giving Ancelotti his first win as Brazil coach.
Brazil then beat Chile 3-0 at the Maracanรฃ before losing 1-0 away to Bolivia in the final qualifier. That Bolivia match came after Brazil had already qualified, but it still offered one useful detail: it was the only qualifier of Ancelottiโs Brazil spell in which Casemiro did not play. The midfielder was suspended after receiving a booking against Chile.
Casemiroโs importance became clearer across that run. With him in the team, Brazil had more protection in front of the defence and more authority in midfield. Without him in Bolivia, Brazil looked less secure in a difficult away fixture played at altitude.
The friendlies added a mixed final picture before squad selection. Brazil lost to France, one of their major rivals for the World Cup, in a result that raised more questions about control and game management. Against Japan, Brazil led 2-0 before losing 3-2, another warning about concentration when matches shift quickly.
The final game before the squad announcement gave Ancelotti a better note to finish on. Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in Orlando, with Danilo, Igor Thiago, and Gabriel Martinelli scoring. Croatia had knocked Brazil out of the 2022 World Cup, so the result gave the team a useful win against a high-level European opponent before the final selection.
Across those ten games, three signs stood out: Casemiro is central to the midfield, Vinรญcius Jรบnior is the main attacking reference, and Ancelotti wants more structure around Brazilโs forwards. That will matter immediately against Morocco, a team comfortable defending deep, waiting for mistakes, and turning tight games into big moments.
Want to learn football terms in Portuguese? Check out our Dica on football vocabulary before Brazil kick off.
Brazil World Cup Lineup 2026
Predicting Brazilโs starting XI is always dangerous. Every Brazilian has their own version, every football fan sees a different solution, and Ancelotti still has room to surprise everyone before kick-off.
Still, based on his first ten games in charge and the final squad, this looks like a realistic Brazil lineup for the World Cup opener against Morocco:
- Goalkeeper: Alisson
- Right-back: Wesley
- Centre-back: Marquinhos
- Centre-back: Gabriel Magalhรฃes
- Left-back: Douglas Santos
- Defensive midfielder: Casemiro
- Central midfielder: Bruno Guimarรฃes
- Right wing: Raphinha
- Attacking midfielder / second striker: Matheus Cunha
- Left wing: Vinรญcius Jรบnior
- Centre-forward: Endrick
This is a Rio & Learn prediction, not a confirmed starting XI, so feel free to disagree with us in the comments. The safest names look like Casemiro, Vinรญcius Jรบnior, Alisson, Marquinhos, Bruno Guimarรฃes, and Matheus Cunha. Casemiro started nine of Ancelottiโs first ten Brazil games, making him the clearest outfield lock. Vinรญcius Jรบnior also started nine and remains the player Brazil will look to when the game needs speed, courage, and a little chaos.
The hardest position to predict is centre-forward. Joรฃo Pedro did not make the squad, so Ancelotti has no obvious default No. 9. He can start Endrick for explosiveness, use Igor Thiago as the more traditional striker, or play Matheus Cunha as a false 9 and add another creator or wide forward behind him.
The right side is also shaped by absences. Estรชvรฃo had become Brazilโs top scorer under Ancelotti, while Rodrygoโs flexibility would have given the coach another elite option across the front line. With both missing, Raphinha looks like the safest right-sided choice for the opener.

Brazil World Cup 2026 Group and Schedule
Brazil have been drawn into Group C at the 2026 World Cup, alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.
Brazilโs group-stage schedule is:
| Match | Date | Stadium | Local stadium time | Brasรญlia / Rio time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil vs Morocco | June 13, 2026 | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford | 6:00 PM EDT | 7:00 PM BRT |
| Brazil vs Haiti | June 19, 2026 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 8:30 PM EDT | 9:30 PM BRT |
| Scotland vs Brazil | June 24, 2026 | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | 6:00 PM EDT | 7:00 PM BRT |
Brazil do not get a gentle opening. Morocco are first, and they may be the toughest test in the group.
Morocco are recent World Cup history-makers. In 2022, they became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, beating Portugal on the way and producing one of the tournamentโs great modern stories.
That makes Brazil vs Morocco a serious test of rhythm, confidence, and control. Morocco have already shown they can frustrate elite teams, defend with discipline, and turn one big moment into something historic.
Haiti and Scotland bring different challenges. Haiti arrive with pride, energy, and a chance to make a statement on a huge stage. Scotland bring tournament history, travelling support, and the kind of tense final group game Brazil will not want to complicate.
Brazil 2026 World Cup: What to Expect
Brazilโs 2026 World Cup campaign begins with its hardest group-stage test: Morocco, the 2022 semi-finalists, in New Jersey.

That match should tell us a lot about Ancelottiโs Brazil. There is also a bigger story around the coach himself: Ancelotti is set to become the first non-Brazilian manager to lead Brazil at a menโs World Cup.
So now the questions begin. What do you think of Ancelottiโs first World Cup squad? Is our predicted lineup the one you would choose against Morocco, or would you make changes?
Let us know in the comments and subscribe to A Dica do Dia.
Weโll be posting football-related Dicas throughout the World Cup, covering Brazilian football culture, previous winning teams, legendary players old and new, and all the little things that make watching Brazil feel different: the noise, the nerves, the jokes, the songs, and the shouts when the ball gets close to goal.
Atรฉ a prรณxima!

SEO Content Specialist at Rio & Learn Portuguese School. A native English speaker who arrived in Brazil six months ago and quickly fell in love with the country, Tom focuses exclusively on Brazil-focused content. He combines data-driven keyword research with careful fact-checking in collaboration with Rio & Learnโs Brazilian teachers.