Ancelotti Confirms All 26 Brazil Players for World Cup Despite Neymar Injury
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti ruled out replacing Neymar after the Santos forward sustained an injury ahead of the World Cup. 'We expect Neymar to be back in the first game against Morocco or eventually in the following game,' Ancelotti said. 'We will not change anyone — the chosen players are these and I don't change plans, all these 26 will play the World Cup.'
Brazil faces Panama in a friendly on Sunday before their final warm-up match against Egypt. Their World Cup opener against Morocco is scheduled for Saturday, June 13th in New Jersey. Ancelotti maintained full confidence in the current squad despite the injury concerns surrounding their star player.
This decision provides clarity for Brazil's World Cup preparations and signals Ancelotti's commitment to his original selection. For fans and bettors, it confirms Brazil will enter the tournament with the exact 26 players originally chosen, assuming Neymar returns as expected for the crucial matches.