Ancelotti sets a deadline for Neymar to secure his place with Brazil for the 2026 World Cup

When questioned about Neymar's potential comeback to Brazil's squad for the 2026 World Cup, coach Carlo Ancelotti believes it is premature to make any conclusions. Nevertheless, Ancelotti remains open to all possibilities regarding Neymar.

The last time Neymar played for Brazil was in 2023. During that call-up, he suffered a severe ligament injury, which led to several other injuries, affecting his physical condition up to now.

The forward born in 1992 missed the 2024 Copa America campaign as well as other recent tournaments with the Selecao. In fact, if he fails to regain form soon, Neymar risks missing out entirely on the 2026 World Cup.

But coach Carlo Ancelotti believes it is too early to say anything definitive about Neymar. He commented during the 2026 World Cup group stage draw on December 6: "At this moment, we must focus on the Brazil team. Brazil may have Neymar or may not, and might include other players or not. We will finalize the squad after the March training camp next year. I understand the great interest in Neymar. But I want to clarify this.

It is December now, the World Cup is in June, and when I decide the final squad, I won't wait until May to make the decision. If Neymar deserves to be at the World Cup, if he performs well, if he is better than anyone else, he will be selected. That is certain."

Currently, Neymar is still working hard to prove himself wearing the Santos jersey. In a recent match, Neymar scored a hat-trick to help Santos earn crucial points in the relegation battle. Remarkably, he played despite not being in full health.

At the 2026 World Cup, Brazil will be in a group with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. This group is considered manageable for the Selecao. If they perform to their potential, Brazil can definitely advance past the group stage.

Following the 2026 World Cup draw, the supercomputer Opta predicted the tournament favorites. Spain leads as the top contender with a 17% chance of winning. France is second with a 14.1% probability. Meanwhile, Brazil ranks seventh with only a 5.6% chance. This is not surprising given Brazil's recent decline and struggles to regain their golden era.

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