Neymar left out of Brazil squad for March games by Carlo Ancelotti

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, the Brazil manager has decided to exclude the star forward from the upcoming friendlies.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:48pm

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Brazil national team manager Carlo Ancelotti has decided to leave Neymar Junior out of the squad for the team's upcoming March international friendlies against France and Croatia. Ancelotti cited Neymar's recent injury history and the need to evaluate other players as the 2026 World Cup approaches.

Why it matters

Neymar's potential return to the Brazilian national team has been a major talking point, but Ancelotti's decision to exclude him from the March games suggests the manager may be looking to move in a different direction as he finalizes his plans for the 2026 World Cup roster.

The details

Ancelotti named a 26-player squad for Brazil's upcoming North American tour, which includes matches against France on March 26 in Foxborough, Massachusetts and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando, Florida. While new faces like Gabriel Sara and Rayan were called up, Neymar's name was absent from the list. The legendary forward's last appearance for Brazil came in October 2023, when he suffered an ACL injury that kept him sidelined for over a year.

  • Neymar's last appearance for Brazil was on October 17, 2023.
  • Brazil will face France on March 26 and Croatia on March 31.

The players

Carlo Ancelotti

The head coach of the Brazil national team.

Neymar Junior

The star forward who was left out of the Brazil squad for the March international friendlies.

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What they’re saying

“I was scheduled to go to Mirassol to watch the Mirassol-Santos match and see both teams. We were received very well there. Neymar did not play; it's important to point that out. I have nothing further to add to any of this.”

— Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil national team manager (worldsoccertalk.com)

What’s next

Reports indicate that Ancelotti has already settled on 18 of the 26 players he intends to bring to the 2026 World Cup, and the March international window will serve as a final audition for several hopefuls to stake a claim for a spot on the roster.

The takeaway

Ancelotti's decision to exclude Neymar from the March friendlies suggests the Brazil manager may be looking to move in a new direction as he finalizes his plans for the 2026 World Cup roster, with the upcoming matches serving as an opportunity to evaluate other players who could contribute to the team's success in the tournament.