Ancelotti shakes up Brazil's squad: Neymar, Vinícius, and Rodrygo out for matches against Chile and Bolivia

Rio de Janeiro (EFE).- Brazil's coach, Italian Carlo Ancelotti, called up several first-time players this Monday and left Neymar, Vinícius and Rodrygo out of the list of 23 players called up for Brazil's last two matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, against Chile and Bolivia next September.

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"The idea I have is to get to know new players that I don't know well on a personal level," said the Italian coach when explaining the big changes in his list of those called up, from which nine of the players who were in the last call-up were left out. Ancelotti explained that Vinícius and Rodrygo were excluded because he already knows them very well, and Neymar, due to the new injury he suffered. As Brazil has already secured its qualification for next year's World Cup, the Italian coach preferred to call up players for the next two matches who had never been called up or had few opportunities, to observe and test them for the team he will put together for the competition in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ancelotti calls up several newcomers to Brazil
After the observations he makes in September, Ancelotti will be able to start putting together the team that will play in the World Cup in the four windows he will have for friendlies before the competition, the first of which is in October of this year and in which Brazil will face Japan and South Korea. For this reason, the list of those called up announced this Monday includes several footballers who had never been called up for the national team, such as Kaio Jorge (Cruzeiro), current top scorer in the Brazilian Championship. Among the surprises, the return of midfielder Lucas Paquetá stood out, who had not been called up since investigations began into his alleged complicity with a network that promoted fraud in sports betting. Vinícius' absence is also due to the fact that he has to serve a suspension for accumulation of yellow cards, so he would only be available for the match against Bolivia. Neymar's Absence
Neymar, who hasn't played for Brazil since October 2023 due to various injuries, is undergoing intensive treatment for edema in his leg. In their last two qualifying matches, the Canarinha will host Chile on September 4 at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro and five days later will visit Bolivia at the 4,100 meters of altitude of El Alto. Brazil mathematically secured its World Cup qualification last June after the victory over Paraguay in São Paulo, with Ancelotti already at the helm of the team. Brazil is third in the South American qualifiers standings, with 25 points, the same as Ecuador, which is second to the leader, Argentina, and has a better goal difference.

List of 23 called up:

• Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool/ENG), Bento (Al Nassr/SAU) and Hugo Souza (Corintians).
• Defenders: Alexandro Ribeiro (Lille/FRA), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Caio Henrique (Mónaco/FRA), Douglas Santos (Zénit/RUS), Fabrício Bruno (Cruzeiro), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal/ENG), Marquinhos (PSG/FRA), Vanderson (Mónaco/FRA) and Wesley (Roma).
• Midfielders: André Santos (Chelsea), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle/ENG), Casemiro (Manchester United/ENG), Joelinton (Newcastle/ENG), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham/ENG).
• Forwards: Estêvão (Chelsea/ENG), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal/ENG), João Pedro (Chelsea/ENG), Kaio Jorge (Cruzeiro), Luiz Henrique (Zénit/RUS), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United/ENG), Raphinha (Barcelona/ESP) and Richarlison (Tottenham/ENG).