BRAZIL
Nickname: Seleção (The Selection)
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Brazil has announced her squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, slated for the US, Canada and Mexico on 18th May 2025. The 5-time champions, led by legendary European manager Carlo Ancelotti, are seeking to exorcise the demons that have plagued their elusive 6th World Cup dream after their last win in Japan-Korea 2002, where Ronaldo (R9) won the golden boot with 8 goals. The inclusion of Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and the omission of Chelsea forward João Pedro has generated heated debate amongst football fans across the globe, with many fans labelling the decision to omit the latter “ridiculous and laughable”. The inclusion of Neymar, with 6 goals and 2 assists from 13 appearances, according to many, was solely for marketing and political reasons other than football. “Style over substance, cried the critics”.
João Pedro massively outperformed Gabriel Martinelli in direct goal contributions this season. João Pedro registered 20 goals and 8 assists (28 combined G/A), while Gabriel Martinelli recorded 11 goals and 4 assists (15 combined G/A). Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes did not also make the cut.
Brazil is the most successful national team in the FIFA World Cup, winning the tournament five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. In 114 World Cup matches played, the team has 76 wins, 19 losses, 247 points and a 129 goal difference. It is the only national team to have played in all World Cup editions without any absence or need for playoffs and was the most successful team in the now-defunct FIFA Confederations Cup, with victories in 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2013.
In FIFA’s ranking system, Brazil holds the record for most Team of the Year first-ranking wins with 14
Below is the final 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Éderson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Grêmio)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Roger Ibañez (Al Ahli), Wesley (AS Roma)
Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al Ittihad), Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Neymar (Santos), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
