Corinthians keeper called up by Brazil for World Cup friendlies

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Central do Timão

·1 October 2025

Corinthians keeper called up by Brazil for World Cup friendlies

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Staff

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 1, the coach of the Brazilian National Team, Carlo Ancelotti, made another call for the Amarelinha, this time for the team's matches on October 10 and 14, against South Korea, in Seoul, and Japan, in Tokyo, in friendly matches preparing for the 2026 World Cup. Goalkeeper Hugo Souza was once again one of the goalkeepers chosen by the Italian.

This is the fourth time Hugo Souza has been called up for the National Team. The first time was in 2018, when the player was called up by Tite for the friendlies against El Salvador and the USA. The other call-ups happened this year, all in World Cup qualifying matches.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

Before Hugo Souza, the last Timão goalkeeper called up by the Brazilian National Team was Cássio, an idol of Alvinegro, who played in the 2018 World Cup and was also part of the group that won the 2019 Copa America. Among the outfield players, the last Corinthians player called up was Yuri Alberto, in March 2023.

With the end of the qualifiers, the next friendlies will be the first of the final preparation phase of the Brazilian National Team for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to take place between June and July in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

For Hugo Souza, the matches against South Korea and Japan gain even more relevance, as coach Carlo Ancelotti signaled the possibility of giving the goalkeeper a chance to play for the main team. The chance increases due to the fact that Alisson, the Brazilian goal's regular, was not called up after leaving injured from Liverpool's match last week.

At Corinthians, the situation will be closely monitored. After the break for the FIFA date, the team returns to the field on June 15, one day after Brazil's match against Japan, to face Santos, away from home, for the Brasileirão. The tendency is that Hugo will be absent in the classic, opening space for Felipe Longo, Matheus Donelli, and Kauê to compete for the starting spot in the Alvinegro goal.

In a press conference, Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti commented that he intends to use the Corinthians' number 1 in the match against Japan, on the next October 14, at 7:30 am (Brasília time), in Tokyo.

"I believe Hugo will play the second game. In the first, I will have Ederson back, who is a very important goalkeeper for us. A great goalkeeper. I believe that in one game Ederson will play, in another Hugo will play, because we want to see him playing with the Brazil shirt. It's a shirt that usually weighs. I believe that the entire commission has a lot of confidence in these goalkeepers," he said.

Before defending the Amarelinha, however, Hugo Souza will have two more commitments with the Alvinegro shirt. The goalkeeper will defend Timão in the Copa do Brasil, in an away game against Athletico-PR this Wednesday, 27, and also in the Brazilian Championship, in the Derby against Palmeiras that takes place at Neo Química Arena next Sunday, 31.

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