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Rabat—Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has clarified that Neymar still has a path to the 2026 World Cup, but only under one condition.
The Brazilian star was left out of the latest squad for March friendlies against France and Croatia, raising doubts about his international future. However, Ancelotti was quick to shut down any suggestion that the door is closed.
Speaking after announcing his squad on Monday, Ancelotti addressed the decision directly and pointed to fitness as the only reason behind Neymar’s absence.
“Neymar can be at the World Cup if he’s 100%,” Ancelotti told reporters. “I didn’t call him up because he’s not 100%. Neymar has to be training and playing.”
So Ancelotti’s decision is based purely on physical condition, not talent. Neymar, now 34, is still seen as one of Brazil’s most decisive players but his recent form and injury history continue to raise concerns.
The forward has struggled to fully recover from a serious knee injury suffered in 2023 and has only recently returned to action with Santos. Despite flashes of quality, the coaching staff believes he is not yet at the level required for international competition.
Neymar said that he was disappointed and sad about being left out.“But I remain focused, day after day, training session after training session, match after match. We will achieve our goal. The dream continues.”
⚽️🇧🇷 | Carlo Ancelotti 🇮🇹 sobre Neymar:
🗣️ “Neymar puede estar en el Mundial si está al 100%. ¿Por qué no lo he convocado ahora? Porque no está al 100%, necesitamos jugadores que estén al 100%.”
📽️@CBF_Futebol
pic.twitter.com/H9mSDrRNcb— Santiago Ravidlas (@SantiRavidlasPy) March 16, 2026
World Cup dream still alive
Despite his omission, Neymar has not given up on representing Brazil at the World Cup in North America.
Reports confirm that the current squad selections are part of the final evaluation phase before the official tournament list is announced.
That leaves Neymar with a narrow but real window to prove his fitness.
Brazil are entering a crucial period of preparation, and Ancelotti has made his priorities known: only players at peak physical condition will be selected.
As the team has more and more younger attacking options, Neymar is no longer guaranteed a place—something that would have just been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Neymar has to perform, stay fit, and prove he can still make the difference. If he reaches full fitness, Brazil’s all-time top scorer could yet play a huge role in the World Cup.
If not, the 2026 edition could be the first time in over a decade that Brazil enters the tournament without him.
