“Oh, right, Mr Ancelotti?” Ancelotti Announces Brazil’s Squad for the 2026 World Cup!

Srećko Šijaković May 18, 2026 (Last updated: July 1, 2026) 3 min read

Carlo Ancelotti, the experienced Italian manager, officially announced his final 26-man squad for the World Cup with Brazil tonight. One of the biggest surprises was the exclusion of João Pedro, the Chelsea forward who many expected to travel to the tournament.

Despite being one of Chelsea’s most productive attacking players individually, João Pedro clearly failed to convince Mr Ancelotti. The Italian coach believes Brazil currently needs players who can consistently deliver in the biggest moments, and Chelsea’s poor performances throughout most of the season heavily influenced the final decision.

Instead, Neymar was recalled to the squad, while Ancelotti also selected versatile attacking options such as Matheus Cunha from Manchester United, who can operate in multiple attacking roles.

Gabriel Martinelli, Endrick and Rayan from AFC Bournemouth also received call-ups.

Carlo Ancelotti are in charge of dealing with the situation perfectly and says he has decided that Joao Pedro is not travelling.

João Pedro effect.

Joao Pedro destroyed Chelsea’s cohesion when he arrived in the locker room. When he arrived last summer, everything changed at Chelsea. Individually, he does right, but collectively, very little.

João Pedro is not a striker problem. Not fishing regularly.

One of the biggest issues surrounding João Pedro was not only his inconsistent form, but also Chelsea’s complete collapse as a team during large parts of the season.

There were also reports of problems inside the dressing room. João Pedro’s arrival reportedly changed the atmosphere within the squad, while Chelsea went through multiple managerial changes without any real improvement. He failed to become the leader or difference-maker the club expected on and off the pitch.

Another concern for Ancelotti is João Pedro’s natural position. He is not a traditional striker, but neither is he a pure number ten. While he can play across several attacking roles, he lacks the killer instinct and specialist qualities needed to lead Brazil’s attack at the highest level.

Unlike Thomas Tuchel, who still regularly follows Chelsea closely, Ancelotti no longer has a strong emotional connection to the West London club. His decisions appear cold, pragmatic, and completely focused on winning.

Andrey Santos was also left out of the squad, another clear statement from the Italian manager. Modern football increasingly favours explosive forwards and wide attackers over traditional midfield profiles.

Tonight, Carlo Ancelotti made his position very clear: reputation and potential alone are no longer enough — only players capable of delivering immediate results will make his Brazil squad.

Official: Carlo Ancelotti Announces Brazil Squad for the 2026 World Cup

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