It's a World Cup year and the next call-up is about 8 - 9 weeks away. And after the World Cup there will be a lot of new stuff too. Will Ancelotti renew and helm the national team for a full cycle? Will CBF under Samir Xaud move in the right direction or was the short-term stuff all for show/just to hold on to power? And in September/October the international break will start later, but be 4 matches long, to avoid having two separate breaks and to give national teams more time together. But before all of that, here's the lead up to the World Cup: March international break List due Sunday March 1 Convocação around March 16 (TBC) Brazil x France, Thursday, March 26 in Foxborough (time TBC) Brazil x Croatia, Tuesday, March 31 in Orlando (8:00pm EDT) pre-World Cup international break starts June 1 World Cup pre-list probably due around May 10 or so Convocação/final list due TBC pre-World Cup friendlies TBC World Cup Group C: Brazil x Morocco, Saturday, June 13 6pm EDT Brazil x Haiti, Friday, June 19 9pm EDT Brazil x Scotland, Wednesday, June 24 6pm EDT Other important stuff: Brasileirão begins January 28, then breaks on May 31 for the World Cup UEFA Champions League final (end of European season) is May 30
Some notable players I've been trying to keep an eye on: Alexsandro (Lille), Bremer and Gabriel are all back from injury. Fingers crossed that they stay healthy. All of them. Raphinha has been in great form since returning from injury. Richarlison left the Tottenham match injured yesterday, with a pulled hamstring. Still TBD on how long he will be out. We all know the March window could help determine whether an in-form player gets a shot at the number 9 spot, but who it could be is really wide open. In Brazil, Pedro, Vitor Roque and Kaio Jorge would be the leading candidates. Let's wait for the Brasileirão to see if any of them look like they might get the call. Overseas, Igor Jesus has been starting a lot more, but is not on a good streak right now. Endrick had a good start with Lyon today, so he could play himself back in. But the big news at 9 is not well known in Brazil, Igor Thiago. He became the highest scoring Brazilian in the Premier League, with 16 goals already with so many matches left. About 4 or 5 of those are PKs, but his conversion numbers are good and he gets the job done, even if he's not a spectacular number 9. I could see him getting a call and plenty of people in Brazil thinking who tf is this guy? I should also mention Andrey has been in good form for Chelsea, which is a good sign. And Bruno Guimarães is probably in the best form of his life. Let's hope they both keep it up.
If you haven't seen it yet, there are now several leaked images of the next Brazil home jersey: https://www.footyheadlines.com/2025/04/brazils-2026-home-kit.html Interestingly, Nike is planning on selling the red jersey, despite CBF's cancellation. It won't be worn by the team, the away jersey has been changed to blue already, but it could be part of their fan collection I suppose: https://www.footyheadlines.com/2025/08/red-jordan-brazil-kit.html
Norway was the team CBF wanted for a pre-World Cup friendly, but it won't happen due to logistics. Looks like Egypt is now the frontrunner: https://www.espn.com.br/futebol/sel...-mundo-amistoso-egito-datas-viagem-bastidores Footy Headlines has images of the Jordan collection for Brazil. I wonder how much Ednaldo made on letting Nike replace the CBF badge with the Jordan logo: https://www.footyheadlines.com/2026/01/jordan-brazil-2026-world-cup-collection.html
Busy day for Brazilian forward today ... - Cunha scored a scorcher for ManU in a big game vs Arsenal - Estevão scored a nice goal against Crystal Palace running the length of the field. And then João Pedro scored a goal as well. - Igor Jesus scored a nice goa for Not. Forest. - Raphinha continuing his good form with a nice GK chip goal. - Endrick is finding his footing in France scoring a hat-trick . It was against last place Metz, but the 2 open play goals shows his quality in finishing. Almost had another one with a toe kick finish. The only thing is that from what I see, he is being played as a RW. Vini Jr. didn't score yesterday but he has put in a couple of decent performances after getting incessantly booed by the Bernabeu for 90 mins the other day.
It was a good weekend for Brazilian forwards! Just highlights that no matter what, choosing four or even worse, just three, to start, will be a tough task. Igor Thiago has not scored since breaking the record for most goals by a Brazilian in the Premier League, but he did reveal that the national team coaching staff has been to Brentford to visit him and told him he is on their radar. That said, even if Richarlison is unavailable or just not included in the March friendlies, there aren't many spots. If Ancelotti goes with "in-form" players it could be Endrick and Igor Thiago, but that is quite a longshot. And we have another 5 or 6 weeks of European matches and Brasileirão matches for the in-form players to change. I am an Endrick believer, personally, so I hope he makes it. I also like the fact that he is being used on the right with Lyon, because so many of our options naturally occupy the left, even if some of them can do both.
Richarlison doesn’t deserve a call-up to the national team, but since he’s Carlo’s favourite, he will be selected. Cunha, Endrick, João Pedro, Vitor Roque, Gabriel Jesus, and Igor Thiago — all of them are better than Richarlison.
Bremer scored a brace yesterday, Marquinhos made a mistake again and conceded a penalty. I think the main defensive pairing for the WC should be Gabi + Militao. 4-5CBs WC Gabi Militao Marquinhos Bremer Thiago Silva?
Bremer has come back strong. Some players (like MIlitão) are very susceptible to a second ACL injury on the other knee when they come back, so I am crossing my fingers that Bremer doesn't go through that. I hope he shows up in the March call-up. I don't see any sign Thiago Silva is likely to be called in, especially with Danilo's call-up last time. I don't think it's impossible, though. I could see him being called in in an emergency, if we lose multiple options to injury, since Ancelotti knows him.
Bremer is being used carefully now, without putting too much strain on him. Danilo is injured, and Idoubt he’ll be called up in March. I think Marquinhos, Gabi, and Bremer are among those who will be called up. Who do you think will be the fourth CB? Militao injured
Alex, from Lille, is back. He has been on the bench recently and reportedly didn't play well on his return, but I am sure Ancelotti will keep him considering how important he was in Ancelotti's first matches.
Ancelotti was at a CBF event a couple of nights ago and said the list is mostly known with a few spots left or uncertain. This isn't really news but of course it did become a subject for some sports shows. ESPN Brasil had their seleção reporter, Pedro Ivo, on to talk about the list. He's informative, though like I said, this isn't really new info. But the video is either funny or frustrating depending on your mood, because you can sense his frustration with some of the other guys. Like one insists on bringing up Kingnaldo as an option, another talks about Beraldo as a fearless defender after it was made clear he is not seen favorably any more. So, it's s short video, but you have to navigate through that noise to get the info. They spend the first 20 minutes on defense before having to rush through midfield and attackers. I will summarize it below. GK: Alisson is the only certain name. Bento and Hugo Souza are frontrunners for the other two spots. Laterais: This is the biggest question mark, as everyone knows. No name is certain here. Wesley has lost favor. Militão's fitness is a concern, but if he's ok he's 100% in (also applies to him as a defender). Alex Sandro is also a fitness concern (for his own reasons), but 100% in if fit. Douglas Santos (who is back from injury now) and Caio Henrique are currently next in line on the left, and Vanderson on the right, but nothing sounded confident. Zagueiros: They are considering taking 5 (or 5 laterais). Depends on the Militão aprt of the equation. They also want to test another left footed defender and are considering Leo Pereira. Beraldo does not have their confidence. He listed Marquinhos, Gabriel and Alex as certain. Danilo has a good shot because of his versatility and leadership. The pundits mentioned Thiago Silva, but Pedro Ivo says the comissão técnica is not very high on him. Midfield: They are thinking about maybe 5 midfielders (most disappointing statement in my opinion). Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães and Paquetá are in. Andrey is likely in. Maybe they'll bring a fifth. Gerson has dropped in their estimation. They didn't really get to talk about anyone else. Attackers: He said six names are in for sure. Could be 8, 9 or 10 in the end. Vini, Raphinha, Rodrygo, Martinelli, Estêvão and Matheus Cunha. João Pedro is well regarded. Luiz Henrique too. Endrick and Gabriel Jesus were names he brought up as having a shot and he said Richarlison has fallen back a little. Antony was brought up and the response was that he doesn't really have a shot because there are already plenty of options. The more traditional center-forwards, Igor Thiago, Igor Jesus and Pedro are a little behind. We'll see if any of them get a shot in March, but it didn't sound like they would unless a few others are not available. He said Neymar doesn't really enter the equation above. If he's in good condition, he'll go, but if it's iffy, he won't.
Endrick with a belter today for Lyon. Social media has exploded asking him to be called up. With his finishing ability and quickness ... I can't imagine he can stay out given the current talent pool.
The video I linked above does give me some hope he will be called in. In fact, if he keeps this up, I will be surprised if he's not. I also think the fact he is being played on the right is a bonus in his favor.
Alex isn't playing for Lille, so how can he get a guaranteed spot? Carlo mentioned that players need to be 100% fit. Endrick is in great form right now, he can be used both centrally and on the right, and at the moment, he looks more interesting than Estêvão
Guaranteed isn't really what I should have said. We use that all the time, but the words actually used were "tá na lista". So he's on the list as it stands. Maybe his dropoff at Lille could change that, but they can wait and see until about March 15 before really having to change their mind. Lille have 9 or 11 matches in this time (6 in the league, 1 in the French Cup, and 2 in Europa League - for 9 total - plus 2 more Europa League if the win get past the play-off round). Rodrigo Mattos (who covers seleção for UOL) has also chimed in now: https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/fute...uais-as-potenciais-novidades-de-ancelotti.htm He backs up the point that Leo Pereira could get a chance. The one place he differs from Pedro Ivo is he indicates Ederson has a good chance if he recovers from injury, and that the staff is not as sure about Hugo Souza anymore. The only other position he mentions "new" names for is forward, with Endrick and Gabriel Jesus having chances. He says that Ancelotti is no longer as interested in a traditional number 9 and understands that a more mobile one is more in line with what works in Brazilian football. This lines up with what Pedro Ivo said that Richarlison may have lost his spot and that Igor Thiago, Igor Jesus and Pedro are less likely to get a shot. The other interesting thing to me is he mentions no new names at full-back, and just says that the fight there is for the backup position (Vanderson or Wesley for RB, Douglas Santos or Caio Henrique for LB).
CBF has released a schedule for the national team ahead of the World Cup, including the dates of the convocações: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...datas-de-viagem-convocacoes-e-amistosos.ghtml March 16 - Convocação for the March friendlies March 23 - Apresentação March 26 - Brazil x France March 31 - Brazil x Croatia May 19 - Convocação for the World Cup May 25 - Preparação starts at Granja Comary May 31 - Brazil x Panama June 1 - Travel to USA June 6 - Brazil x Egypt June 13 - First World Cup Group match x Morocco A couple of other notes/reminders: March list is due Sunday, March 1, so we may hear leaks after that date (although last time I think there weren't any). Champions League final is May 30, Libertadores last group match is May 28, last Brasileirão match is May 31.
Bruno Guimarães is reportedly going to miss 2 more months due to his muscle injury. I really hope they don't rush him back and maybe we even get lucky and we get a rested starting midfielder back for the World Cup. But I also really hope this leads the coaching staff to reconsider taking only 5 mids. This March, we'll have Andrey, Casemiro and Paquetá. Even if they call up two more, for only 5 total, who knows, maybe we could see those 2 make the World Cup, as well as a returning BG, for a total of six. But who even would those two or three additional names for March even be? One more injury and we don't even have backups at this point.
We need to call up Fabinho—we'll need his experience and cool head. Ederson from Atalanta is another option since he’s in great form. Also, we could try Neymar in the playmaker role if he gets fit in time. Everyone else called up in the last year isn't national team material. A one-legged Neymar is more useful than Andre, Joao Gomes, Joelinton, Andreas Pereira, and Gerson.
Vini Jr. has been finding some better form since the managerial change at Madrid. I don't know how his consistency over a whole game has been, but scored a scorcher today.
He lacks consistency sometimes and gets way too distracted by outside stuff like arguing with refs or other players. If he just puts all that aside and focuses on his own game, he could easily go from being one of the best to being the absolute best in the world.
There’s also Breno Bidon from Corinthians, who is a very promising player, though I doubt Carlo will call him up, as he’s very technical, stays calm under pressure, has solid passing, and is versatile enough to play as a DM or an attacking mid.
Yep. I like Samir Xaud's reasoning. They want him to have more time. In a way, CBF's leadership is acknowledging that this World Cup is not a reasonable objective and they don't want to throw away such a big coach on a 1 year emergency job. https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...trato-de-ancelotti-um-ano-e-muito-pouco.ghtml