Key Takeaways:
- Joelinton has been ruled out of Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign after sustaining an injury in Newcastle’s 2-3 defeat to Liverpool
- Jean Lucas of Bahia will join the Brazil squad in place of Joelinton for the remaining qualifiers
- Brazil, currently third in the CONMEBOL standings with 25 points, will host Chile on 4 September before visiting Bolivia five days later
Squad Changes for Brazil Following Premier League Star Injury
The Brazilian Football Confederation has confirmed that Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton will be absent from Brazil’s imminent World Cup qualifiers after picking up an injury in his side’s 2-3 Premier League loss to Liverpool on Monday. The 29-year-old was forced to exit the match visibly distraught in the second half, with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe stating, “Honestly, things don’t look good.”
In response, Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti has called up Jean Lucas from Bahia to bolster the midfield options for the remainder of the qualification campaign. In addition, left-back Alex Sandro of Flamengo has also been withdrawn from the national squad due to an injury setback.
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Carlo Ancelotti has called up Jean Lucas to replace the injured Joelinton in the Brazil squad.
Left-back Alex Sandro from Flamengo has also been ruled out due to injury but no replacement will be called up. pic.twitter.com/Jh7YDHbX4A
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 27, 2025
Upcoming Fixtures and Qualification Outlook
Brazil are scheduled to face Chile at the Maracanã Stadium on 4 September. They will then travel to Bolivia for their final qualifier on 9 September. The Selecão currently occupy third place in the CONMEBOL qualification table, having amassed 25 points.
| Player | Club | Status | Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joelinton | Newcastle United | Injured (out) | Jean Lucas (Bahia) |
| Alex Sandro | Flamengo | Injured (out) | Not called |
CONMEBOL Standings Snapshot
With 25 points, Brazil remain in strong contention for qualification as they approach the final fixtures of their campaign. The squad adjustments come at a critical juncture, with fixtures against Chile and Bolivia set to decide their final standing in the group.
