Pressure and dressing-room bombshell? Ancelotti on Neymar at the World Cup | OneFootball

Next Monday (18), coach Carlo Ancelotti will announce the final list of 26 players called up to represent the Brazilian National Team at the 2026 World Cup.

And this Tuesday (12), the experienced Italian coach spoke openly about the big question that has gone beyond the “football bubble.” After all, will Neymar be called up or not?

In an interview with the news agency Reuters, Ancelotti made a point of highlighting how much Neymar is loved by Brazilians and by the players, but also stressed that he does not feel more or less pressure to call up Santos’ No. 10. 

"Neymar is very loved. Not only by the people, but also by the players. If you call up Neymar, you are not bringing a bomb into the locker room, because he is very dear, very loved. I think it’s normal for everyone to give their opinion. I thank everyone who has given me advice," said Ancelotti, before adding:

"When you have to choose, you need to consider many things. Neymar is an important player for this country, because of the talent he has always shown, and he had a problem, but he is recovering. He is working hard to recover and he is playing. In recent times he has improved a lot and is playing consistently.

Last Monday (11), the CBF sent FIFA a preliminary list with 55 player names. And Neymar is “in the mix” among those who could go to the World Cup.

Ancelotti also pointed out that the Santos star has improved “in the last 15 or 20 days” thanks to better physical conditioning and acknowledged that finalizing the list of 26 called-up players is not a simple task.

"Obviously, for me, it is not such a simple decision. I have to carefully assess the pros and cons. But that does not put extra pressure on me, because, as I said, for a year we have been evaluating not only Neymar, but all the players".

Finally, the 63-year-old Italian coach ruled out any "external problem" at the Brazilian National Team’s World Cup camp.

"The outside environment is under control, and it will remain under control until the end of the World Cup. With or without Neymar".

After the final squad list for the 2026 World Cup is announced next Monday (18), the players called up by Ancelotti will report to the CBF training center, at Granja Comary in Teresópolis, on May 27.

The exception is the PSG and Arsenal players who will play in the Champions League final.

The National Team will say goodbye to the Brazilian public at the Maracanã, in a friendly against Panama on May 31.

On U.S. soil, Brazil will play one final friendly on June 6, against Egypt in Cleveland, and will make its World Cup debut on June 13, against Morocco in New Jersey.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 ANTHONY WALLACE - AFP or licensors