Ancelotti Eyes Brazil’s 2026 World Cup with Neymar’s Fitness in Spotlight

Carlo Ancelotti, one of the most respected football coaches in the world, has now announced the Brazil national team squad twice since becoming head coach. Both times, Neymar Jr. was left out of the squad. Officially, the reason given was injury, but Neymar himself said that on at least one occasion, it was a tactical choice by the coach and not related to fitness. This difference in explanation created a small disagreement between the legendary player and the experienced coach. For Ancelotti, fitness is a key requirement for every player, no matter how talented, and he has made this clear in all his recent interviews and decisions.

Neymar, who became Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in September 2023, has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Just a month after breaking the record, he suffered a serious ACL injury that kept him out for nearly a year. Even though he later returned to his boyhood club Santos while still under contract with Al-Hilal, he has not yet been able to regain full form for the national team. Now 33 years old, Neymar’s battle with repeated injuries continues to raise questions about whether he will be at his best for the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil recently played two World Cup qualifying matches in September. Neymar’s name was included in Ancelotti’s preliminary squad, showing that the coach still considers him important. However, just two days before the match, Neymar picked up another injury and was dropped from the final list. Ancelotti explained that it was a matter of fitness, but Neymar told the media that it was purely a tactical decision by the coach and had nothing to do with his physical condition. Neymar added that he respected the decision, but the difference in statements highlighted the tension.

In a recent ESPN interview, Ancelotti addressed the situation more clearly. He explained that nobody needs to evaluate Neymar’s talent, as the whole world already knows about his quality. The real question is fitness. According to the coach, modern football requires not only skill but also the physical strength and sharpness to deliver consistently. If Neymar can achieve 100 percent fitness, then there will be no problem in including him in Brazil’s squad. Ancelotti also said he has already spoken directly to Neymar about these requirements, making it clear that his return depends entirely on his physical condition.

When Ancelotti first announced Brazil’s squad in June, he shared details of his personal discussion with Neymar. Before a match against Paraguay, Neymar visited the team hotel. Ancelotti reminded him that he must focus on getting fully fit before the World Cup. He told Neymar that he remains very important for Brazil and can be used either as a striker or an attacking midfielder, but only in central positions. The coach stressed that Neymar cannot play out wide anymore because modern football demands too much physicality in those roles. However, as a central attacking player, Neymar could still perform brilliantly if fit.

Ancelotti, who signed a one-year contract as Brazil’s coach, has been clear that his immediate goal is to prepare the team to win the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Brazil is going into this tournament after their weakest-ever qualifying performance, but under Ancelotti, they have played four matches, with two wins, one draw, and one defeat. The Italian coach described preparing Brazil for the World Cup as something very special in his career.

At the same time, Ancelotti has already expressed interest in staying longer. Though his current deal runs until 2026, he has said that he would be happy to remain Brazil’s head coach until the 2030 World Cup if the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) wants him to continue. He explained that both he and his family are happy in Brazil, and discussions about extending the partnership could take place in the future. If this happens, it would give Ancelotti a chance to guide Brazil through two consecutive World Cups, something that could shape a new era for the Seleção.