Brazil announced its 26-player squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Museu do Amanhã in Rio de Janeiro. Carlo Ancelotti named Neymar in the final squad after a 2.5-year international absence, while leaving out long-serving defender Thiago Silva and Chelsea’s João Pedro. The Seleção open Group C against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey.
The squad features eight Premier League players, three goalkeepers, and four players from Brazilian club Flamengo. Marquinhos and Casemiro split the captaincy. Brazil enters its 23rd consecutive World Cup, the only nation to have played in every edition since 1930.
This is your full Brazil squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Brazil 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Alisson Becker | Liverpool | 33 | 75 | 0 |
| GK | Ederson | Fenerbahçe | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| GK | Weverton | Grêmio | 37 | 11 | 0 |
| DF | Marquinhos (C) | PSG | 31 | 99 | 7 |
| DF | Gabriel Magalhães | Arsenal | 28 | 25 | 1 |
| DF | Bremer | Juventus | 28 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | Alex Sandro | Flamengo | 35 | 38 | 1 |
| DF | Danilo | Flamengo | 34 | 65 | 1 |
| DF | Douglas Santos | Zenit Saint Petersburg | 32 | 7 | 0 |
| DF | Léo Pereira | Flamengo | 29 | 5 | 0 |
| DF | Roger Ibañez | Al-Ahli | 27 | 6 | 0 |
| DF | Wesley | Roma | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | Casemiro (C) | Manchester United | 34 | 80 | 9 |
| MF | Bruno Guimarães | Newcastle United | 28 | 35 | 4 |
| MF | Lucas Paquetá | Flamengo | 28 | 51 | 11 |
| MF | Fabinho | Al-Ittihad | 32 | 32 | 1 |
| MF | Danilo Santos | Botafogo | 25 | 6 | 0 |
| FW | Vinícius Júnior | Real Madrid | 25 | 41 | 7 |
| FW | Raphinha | Barcelona | 29 | 33 | 12 |
| FW | Neymar | Santos | 34 | 128 | 79 |
| FW | Matheus Cunha | Manchester United | 27 | 19 | 4 |
| FW | Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal | 24 | 18 | 4 |
| FW | Endrick | Lyon | 19 | 14 | 4 |
| FW | Igor Thiago | Brentford | 24 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Luiz Henrique | Zenit Saint Petersburg | 25 | 6 | 1 |
| FW | Rayan | Bournemouth | 19 | 2 | 1 |
(C) = co-captain. Caps and goals are pre-tournament figures as of May 18, 2026.
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Brazil World Cup Squad Quick Stats
Here are the key numbers in Carlo Ancelotti’s final 26.
- Average age: 28 years
- Most-capped player: Neymar (128 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Neymar (79 international goals, Brazil’s all-time record)
- Premier League players: 8 (Alisson, Gabriel Magalhães, Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Rayan)
- Players from Flamengo: 4 (Alex Sandro, Danilo, Léo Pereira, Lucas Paquetá)
- Youngest player: Endrick and Rayan (both 19)
- Oldest player: Weverton (37)
- World Cup debutants: Several first-time call-ups including Rayan, Igor Thiago, Léo Pereira, and Wesley
Key Players to Watch
Neymar (Santos). Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 international goals, returning to the national team after 2.5 years out with an ACL injury. The 34-year-old has 6 goals and 3 assists in 13 matches for Santos this season. This is likely his last World Cup.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid). The 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up and one of the world’s best left wingers. He scored the winning goal that sealed Brazil’s qualification on June 10, 2025, against Paraguay. Two-time Champions League winner under Ancelotti at Madrid.
Raphinha (Barcelona). Brazil’s top scorer in qualifying with 5 goals. The Barcelona winger has been one of Europe’s most consistent attackers over the past two seasons. Expected to start on the right flank.
Marquinhos (PSG). Co-captain and centre-back rock. Won the Champions League with PSG in 2024-25 as captain. Approaching his century of caps for Brazil at 99.
Casemiro (Manchester United). Co-captain and defensive midfield anchor. The 34-year-old will likely partner Bruno Guimarães in the centre. His leadership has been central to Ancelotti’s rebuild.
Endrick (Lyon). The 19-year-old Real Madrid prospect spent the second half of the season on loan at Lyon, where he rediscovered his goal-scoring form. Competes with Igor Thiago and Matheus Cunha for the central striker role.
Brazil World Cup 2026 Schedule
Brazil plays all three group stage matches on the East Coast of the United States.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (BRT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, June 13 | Morocco | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Friday, June 19 | Haiti | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Wednesday, June 24 | Scotland | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
Before the tournament, Brazil plays two warm-up friendlies: Panama on May 31 at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, and Egypt on June 6 in the United States. The official squad presentation takes place on May 27 at the Granja Comary training centre in Teresópolis.
How Brazil Qualified for World Cup 2026
Brazil finished 5th in the South American qualifiers with 28 points. The campaign was rocky. Three head coaches passed through the dugout before Ancelotti’s appointment: Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz, and Dorival Júnior. Dorival was sacked after a 4-1 loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Ancelotti was appointed in May 2025 and sealed qualification a month later on June 10, 2025, with a 1-0 win over Paraguay. Vinícius Júnior scored the only goal. Brazil’s standout qualifying performance was a 4-0 win over Peru in Brasília.
Argentina won the South American group with 10 more points than Brazil. Ecuador, Colombia, and Uruguay also finished above the Seleção, which made for Brazil’s most challenging qualifying campaign since 2018.
Head Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti, 66, took over the Brazil job in May 2025 after leaving Real Madrid. He is the first non-Brazilian to coach Brazil at a World Cup. Ancelotti is one of the most decorated managers in football history, with five Champions League titles (three with Real Madrid, two with AC Milan) and league titles in five different countries.
His preferred formation is 4-3-3. Brazil’s expected first-choice XI features Alisson in goal, a back four of Wesley, Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, and Alex Sandro, a midfield three of Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, and Lucas Paquetá, and an attack of Vinícius Júnior, Matheus Cunha, and Raphinha.
Group C at a Glance
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 6 | 23 | Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) |
| Morocco | 8 | 7 | Semi-finals (2022) |
| Scotland | 33 | 9 | Group stage (1954, 1958, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998) |
| Haiti | 81 | 2 | Group stage (1974, 2026) |
Brazil are heavy favourites to top Group C, but Morocco’s semi-final run in Qatar 2022 makes them a real threat. Scotland reach their first World Cup since 1998. Haiti make their first appearance since 1974, after winning a CONCACAF play-off route in late 2025.
FAQ about Brazil World Cup Squad 2026
Who is Brazil’s captain at the 2026 World Cup?
Marquinhos and Casemiro share the captaincy as co-captains under Carlo Ancelotti. Marquinhos leads the defence and Casemiro leads from midfield. Both have over 80 caps and are seen as the dressing-room leaders of Ancelotti’s rebuild.
Is Neymar in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Yes. Carlo Ancelotti named Neymar in the final 26 after a 2.5-year international absence. The 34-year-old Santos forward had not played for Brazil since October 18, 2023, when he suffered an ACL injury against Uruguay. This is his fourth World Cup.
Who was left out of Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad?
The biggest names left out are Thiago Silva (Porto), João Pedro (Chelsea), Andrey Santos (Chelsea), and goalkeeper Bento (Al-Nassr). Thiago Silva’s exclusion ends his streak of four straight World Cups. Joelinton, Lucas Beraldo, Vitor Roque, and Rodrygo also missed the cut.
Who is Brazil’s head coach for the 2026 World Cup?
Carlo Ancelotti, the 66-year-old Italian, manages Brazil. He took over from Dorival Júnior in May 2025 after leaving Real Madrid. He is the first non-Brazilian to coach Brazil at a World Cup.
When does Brazil play its first World Cup 2026 match?
Brazil plays its first match on Saturday, June 13, 2026, against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is 6:00 PM ET (7:00 PM BRT).
Which group is Brazil in at the 2026 World Cup?
Brazil is in Group C with Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti. The group is considered tough on paper because of Morocco’s run to the 2022 semi-finals, but Brazil are heavy favourites to top the group.
How many Premier League players are in Brazil’s 2026 squad?
Eight Premier League players are in the squad: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Casemiro (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), and Rayan (Bournemouth).
Who is the youngest player in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Endrick and Rayan are both 19 years old. Endrick plays for Lyon on loan from Real Madrid. Rayan plays for Bournemouth in the Premier League. Both are first-time World Cup squad members.
Has Brazil won the World Cup before?
Yes. Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup five times: 1958 (Sweden), 1962 (Chile), 1970 (Mexico), 1994 (United States), and 2002 (South Korea and Japan). Brazil is the most successful team in World Cup history and the only nation to play in every edition of the tournament.
Brazil’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
Brazil arrive in North America under huge pressure. Ancelotti has built a squad around Champions League winners (Marquinhos, Vinícius Júnior, Alisson) and a returning Neymar. The defence looks more solid than in 2022, when Croatia eliminated Brazil on penalties in the quarter-finals.
The path is open. Brazil has a manageable group, a favourable knockout side of the bracket if it wins Group C, and the most decorated manager of the modern era on the touchline. If Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, and Neymar fire together, Brazil’s 24-year wait for a sixth star could end on July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
