Brazil Squad Announced for March Friendlies Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Carlo Ancelotti has named his Brazil squad for upcoming friendly matches against France and Croatia, marking the final roster selection before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The matches, crucial for preparation, will see Brazil face France on March 26th at Gillette Stadium in Boston, and Croatia on March 31st at Camping World Stadium in Orlando .

Squad Details

The 23-man squad features a mix of experienced players and emerging talents. Notably, Neymar was again overlooked for selection, continuing his absence from the national team since October 2023 . Several players are in line to potentially earn their first international caps, including Bournemouth winger Rayan, Brentford striker Igor Thiago, Flamengo’s Leo Pereira, Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sara, and Botafogo midfielder Danilo , .

Goalkeepers

• Hugo Souza (Corinthians)
• Bento (Al-Nassr)
• Ederson (Fenerbahçe)

Defenders

• Alex Sandro (Flamengo)
• Bremer (Juventus)
• Danilo (Flamengo)
• Douglas Santos (Zenit)
• Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
• Ibañez (Al Ahli)
• Léo Pereira (Flamengo)
• Marquinhos (PSG)
• Wesley (Roma)

Midfielders

• Andrey Santos (Chelsea)
• Casemiro (Manchester United)
• Danilo (Botafogo)
• Fabinho (Al-Ittihad)
• Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray)

Forwards

• Endrick (Lyon)
• Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
• Igor Thiago (Brentford)
• João Pedro (Chelsea)
• Luiz Henrique (Zenit)
• Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)
• Raphinha (Barcelona)
• Rayan (Bournemouth)
• Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid)

World Cup 2026 Group Stage

Brazil is drawn into Group C for the 2026 World Cup, where they will compete against Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. Their opening match is scheduled for June 13th against Morocco .

Expanding Tournament Format

The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, a significant expansion from the traditional 32-team format. This change promises a larger and more diverse tournament, hosted across Canada, the United States, and Mexico .

Injury Update

Goalkeeper Alisson, originally named in the squad, has been ruled out due to injury and replaced by Hugo Souza of Corinthians .