Key Takeaways:
- Brazil named their squad on Monday for March friendlies against France and Croatia in the United States
- Neymar was not selected due to ongoing fitness problems after missing recent club action with muscle fatigue
- Endrick has returned to the national side, while Brentford’s Igor Thiago received his first international call-up
Squad Announcement and Neymar’s Absence
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed his squad for this month’s international friendlies, leaving out star forward Neymar as the five-time world champions intensify their build-up to the 2026 World Cup. The South Americans are scheduled to face France on 26 March at Boston’s Gillette Stadium, followed by a fixture against Croatia on 31 March in Orlando.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Neymar Jr has been left OUT of Brazil squad by Carlo Ancelotti. ❌ pic.twitter.com/omD73LobXr
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 16, 2026
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time record scorer with 79 goals, has been omitted from this selection after the 34-year-old missed a recent match for Santos FC because of muscle fatigue. This situation affected Ancelotti’s plans to observe the forward in action during a scouting trip before naming his side. Neymar has yet to feature for his national side since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023, and has struggled for consistent match fitness since returning to Santos last year.
Ancelotti addressed the decision directly, stating, “Neymar can be at the World Cup if he’s 100%,” and explained, “I didn’t call him up because he’s not 100%. Neymar has to be training and playing.”
Fresh Faces and Attack Reinforcements
The Italian manager has opted for change in Brazil’s attacking line-up, recalling 19-year-old Endrick for his first international action in almost a year. Additionally, Brentford’s Igor Thiago has earned his inaugural call-up as Ancelotti evaluates new options ahead of the global tournament.
Brazil’s preparations will continue in June with another friendly against Egypt, prior to their opening Group C World Cup fixture versus Morocco on 13 June.
Full Brazil Squad for March Friendlies
| Position | Name | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Alisson | Liverpool |
| Bento | Al-Nassr | |
| Ederson | Fenerbahce | |
| Defenders | Wesley | AS Roma |
| Alex Sandro | Flamengo | |
| Douglas Santos | Zenit St Petersburg | |
| Marquinhos | Paris St Germain | |
| Gabriel Magalhaes | Arsenal | |
| Bremer | Juventus | |
| Danilo | Flamengo | |
| Ibanez | Al-Ahli | |
| Leo Pereira | Flamengo | |
| Midfielders | Andrey Santos | Chelsea |
| Casemiro | Manchester United | |
| Danilo | Botafogo | |
| Fabinho | Al-Ittihad | |
| Gabriel Sara | Galatasaray | |
| Forwards | Endrick | Olympique Lyonnais |
| Igor Thiago | Brentford | |
| Luiz Henrique | Zenit St Petersburg | |
| Rayan | Bournemouth | |
| Joao Pedro | Chelsea | |
| Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | |
| Matheus Cunha | Manchester United | |
| Raphinha | Barcelona | |
| Vinicius Jr | Real Madrid |
Looking Ahead
With preparations intensifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Brazil’s latest selection underscores Ancelotti’s efforts to rejuvenate the squad, particularly in attack. The squad’s next challenges come in the form of high-calibre opposition, offering valuable opportunities for emerging players to impress as the countdown to the tournament continues.
