Ancelotti leaves Neymar out of Brazil’s March squad

Brazil Coach Ancelotti Announces March Squad Without Neymar, Eyes Contract Through 2030

Carlo Ancelotti named a 26-man Brazil squad on Monday for upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia, leaving Neymar off the roster while reaffirming his intention to remain as head coach through the 2030 World Cup. The announcement, made at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, sets the stage for Brazil’s final matches before World Cup rosters are finalized this spring.sportingnews

Neymar’s Omission and the Fitness Question

Neymar, 34, has not played for Brazil since suffering an ACL injury against Uruguay in October 2023. Although the forward returned to his boyhood club Santos earlier this year and recently completed a full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Corinthians, Ancelotti determined he was not ready for international duty.beinsports

“Neymar can be at the World Cup if he is 100%. He needs to arrive in good physical condition. One thing is the final squad, another thing is these friendlies now. I need players who are fully fit,” Ancelotti said. He noted that he traveled to watch a Santos match against Mirassol on March 10, but Neymar did not participate due to muscular discomfort and fatigue.worldsoccertalk

Ancelotti framed the broader squad around fitness concerns, citing injuries to key players including Rodrygo, who is dealing with an ACL injury. “The reasoning behind the squad largely revolves around injuries. It’s a list made up of players who are fully fit,” he said.sportingnews

New Faces and Final Auditions

The squad features several first-time call-ups under Ancelotti, including Endrick, now at Lyon, and Igor Thiago of Brentford, along with Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sara and Bournemouth’s Rayan. Established names such as Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Casemiro, Alisson, and Marquinhos were all included.yahoo

Brazil will face France on March 26 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, followed by Croatia on March 31 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The matches represent the last chance for fringe players to stake a claim before the World Cup squad is finalized ahead of the tournament opener against Morocco on June 13.worldsoccertalk

Eyes Already on 2030

Beyond the immediate squad selection, Ancelotti confirmed his long-term commitment to the Seleção. “I think that I will renew my contract with Brazil for another four years,” he told Movistar in a recent interview. According to ESPN, Ancelotti reached a verbal agreement with the Brazilian Football Confederation to extend through the 2030 World Cup, with only formal paperwork remaining. The deal is expected to maintain his current salary of approximately €10 million annually, with adjusted performance bonuses.chosun

Ancelotti, who became Brazil’s first foreign coach in 60 years when he took charge in May 2025 after leaving Real Madrid, has guided the team through World Cup qualification and a series of friendlies with mixed results. Brazil are drawn in Group C of the 2026 World Cup alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.beinsports