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Joao Pedro’s Chelsea heroics not enough for Brazil World Cup squad as Neymar returns

Joao Pedro’s impressive season for Chelsea wasn’t enough to secure a spot in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad, while veteran Neymar earned a recall.

Oliver Obel

·

May 19, 2026

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Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti delivered a significant blow to Chelsea forward Joao Pedro on Monday night, omitting the 24-year-old from the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. The decision comes despite Pedro’s stellar season in Europe, while veteran forward Neymar, 34, earned a recall.

Pedro’s exclusion is a notable talking point, given his impressive contributions for Chelsea throughout the season. The young forward netted 20 goals and provided nine assists across all competitions, establishing himself as a key figure for his club. He has also made eight appearances for the Brazil national team since his debut in 2023, featuring in four of a possible 12 World Cup qualification matches and playing in the most recent March international break against France and Croatia.

Following the announcement, Pedro took to social media to express his disappointment. “I tried to give my best at all times,” he shared on his Instagram story. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfill this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be. Joys and frustrations are part of football. From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there and I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home.”

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Ancelotti on Pedro’s omission and Neymar’s recall

Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, telling the national press, “Of course, we are sad for Joao Pedro. For the season he had in Europe, he probably deserved to be on this list, but unfortunately, with all possible awareness and respect, we chose another player. I feel very sorry for Joao Pedro and all the others.”

The coach’s explanation for Neymar’s inclusion, despite the Santos forward’s six goals and four assists this season, focused on a blend of physical resurgence and invaluable experience. Brazil is chasing its sixth World Cup title at the tournament in North America.

“We evaluated Neymar throughout the year, and we saw that in this last period he played consistently and improved his physical condition,” Ancelotti stated, as reported by GiveMeSport. “We think he is an important player, and he will be an important player in this World Cup. The evaluation for the whole year was solely based on the physical aspect. We talked about that. It was physical. In the last games, he played consistently. He may have the possibility of improving his physical condition before the first game of the Cup. He has that opportunity. In addition, his experience in this type of competition, and the affection he has for the group, creating a better environment within the group, helping the team, are all important factors.”

The squad named by Ancelotti includes a mix of established stars and emerging talents as Brazil prepares for the global showpiece.

Sources: www.givemesport.com