This Monday, Confederação Brasileira of Futebol sends the preliminary list of 55 players to Copa of Mundo in 2026. Coach Carlo Ancelotti included striker Neymar among the names monitored for the tournament that starts in June. On the other hand, young Estêvão, from Chelsea, should be the main absence from the final squad due to a serious thigh injury.
FIFA protocol requires teams to register this expanded group exactly one month before the opening of the competition. Apenas athletes present in this list will be able to join the definitive group of 26 called up. Neymar, currently at Santos, has been a constant figure on these long lists since the Italian coach took office. Entretanto, your participation in Mundial is still treated internally as unlikely due to physical and game rhythm issues.
CONTAGEM REGRESSIVA! 🔥
— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) April 30, 2026
Já pode riscar o calendário porque tem convocação para Copa do Mundo e Brasil em campo!
VAMOS COM TUDO, ISSO É BRASIL!#BateNoPeito pic.twitter.com/T6GPdj81eE
Diagnóstico doctor takes Estêvão away from immediate plans
Estêvão’s situation is the one that generates the most concern among the Seleção Brasileira technical committee. The attacker suffered a severe muscle strain during Chelsea’s match against Premier League and opted for conservative treatment at Brasil. Apesar of the athlete’s effort, the tests carried out by the CBF medical department indicate that he would not be able to perform even in a possible knockout phase.
Ancelotti and his assistants monitor the clinical reports sent by the English club. The current trend is for young players to lose their place to a player who is physically fit to play. The coach debates with his team whether he will maintain the strategy of calling up five midfielders and nine attackers or whether he will open an extra place in the creative sector to compensate for the loss of the winger.
Disputa for vacancies and possible additions to the cast
The list sent to FIFA serves as a thermometer for the names that will be in Museu’s Amanhã next Monday. Pedro, Flamengo’s top scorer, gains strength behind the scenes and could be the big surprise among the center forwards. The player was never called up by Ancelotti, but the coach has already publicly expressed his interest in observing the athlete closely.
Abaixo, see the main details of Seleção Brasileira’s schedule until debut:
- May 11:Envio from the pre-list of 55 names for FIFA.
- May 18:Official Convocação of the 26 players at 5pm (from Brasília).
- May 27:Início of preparation in Granja Comary, in Teresópolis.
- May 31:Amistoso versus Panamá on Maracanã.
- June 6th:Amistoso against Egito in Cleveland, in the USA.
- June 13:Estreia on Copa of Mundo against Marrocos.
Incertezas in midfield and options on the right flank
The irregular performance of Chelsea in the European season called into question the presence of the Andrey Santos midfielder. Ele competes for space with consolidated names such as Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães and Fabinho. Caso the midfield sector is reduced to five names, the coaching staff can use this vacancy to reinforce the attack with the young Rayan, who stood out in the March friendlies.
The competition regulations allow changes to the list of 26 players to be made up to 24 hours before the debut. Contudo, this change is only permitted upon proof of a serious injury through an official FIFA medical report. From the start of the tournament, only goalkeeper substitutions are authorized in cases of confirmed physical problems.
