[Official] 'Major Comeback': Neymar to Join Brazil Squad for World Cup

*This content was translated by AI.

Brazil's final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup has been revealed. Despite being repeatedly excluded from the Choi Geun (CEO) squad, making his chances of participating in the North American World Cup seem slim, 34-year-old Neymar (Santos) has made a dramatic return to the national team after two years and seven months, securing his spot on the World Cup stage.

Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian head coach of the Brazil national football team, held a press conference on the 19th (Korean time) at the Amapa Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and announced the final 26-man squad for the North American World Cup, including Neymar.

Neymar, who had been focusing on rehabilitation for a long time due to injuries to his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his knee during the North American World Cup South American qualifiers against Uruguay in October 2023, faced uncertainty regarding his participation in this World Cup as he was rarely called up by Coach Ancelotti even after returning from injury.

Although public opinion regarding Neymar's return to the national team grew, with Brazilian fans chanting his name immediately after Brazil's 1-2 defeat to France in a friendly match held in the United States in March, Coach Ancelotti stated, "I am satisfied with the players who played today," appearing to draw a line on the possibility of Neymar's return.

However, when constructing the final 26-man squad for the North American World Cup, Coach Ancelotti included Neymar. At the press conference that day, as Coach Ancelotti called out each player included in the final World Cup squad one by one and directly announced Neymar's full name, officially confirming his participation in the World Cup, cheers erupted in the venue.

With this, Neymar prepares for his fourth personal World Cup stage, following the 2014 Brazil tournament, the 2018 Russia tournament, and the 2022 Qatar tournament. After playing for FC Barcelona (Spain), Paris Saint-Germain (PSG·France), and Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Neymar returned to his domestic league club Santos last year. He has recorded 6 goals and 4 assists in 15 official matches this season.

In addition to Neymar, Coach Ancelotti included Alisson (Liverpool), Marquinhos (PSG), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Casemiro (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), and Raphinha (Barcelona) in the final North American World Cup squad.

João Pedro (Chelsea), Savinho (Manchester City), Richarlison (Tottenham), Gabriel Jeju (Arsenal), and Thiago Silva (Porto), who were included in the preliminary World Cup squad, had to give up their World Cup dreams.

By league, the squad consists of 8 players from the English Premier League (EPL), the highest number, followed by 7 from Brazil's domestic league, 2 each from Spain's La Liga, France's Ligue 1, and Italy's Serie A. Two players from the Saudi Arabian league, such as Jader Ibáñez (Al-Ahli) and Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), also made the list.

Ranked 6th in the FIFA rankings and the most decorated World Cup winner (5 titles), Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. They are aiming for their sixth overall title and the first since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, 24 years later. In this North American World Cup, Brazil is placed in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.

- Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahçe), Weverton (Grêmio)

- Defenders: Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Danilo Luís, Alex Sandro (both Flamengo), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Bremer (Juventus), Wesley (AS Roma), Douglas Santos (Jennie), Jader Ibáñez (Al-Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo)

- Midfielders: Casemiro (Manchester United), Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Danilo Santos (Botafogo)

- Forwards: Neymar (Santos), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Endrick (Lyon), Luis Henrique (Jennie), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Hayang (Bournemouth)

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*This content was translated by AI.