Carlo Ancelotti said the choice of whether to take Neymar to the 2026 World Cup is “weighing heavily” on him after the forward was named on Brazil’s 55-man provisional list.
Ancelotti confirmed Neymar, 34, is on the long list yet stressed the final decision will be a careful balancing act: the provisional squad must be trimmed to 26 players when the Brazilian federation announces the World Cup roster on May 18.
That 55-man figure is the concrete step that keeps Neymar in contention for a tournament that opens June 11 and sends Brazil into Group C opposite Morocco, Haiti and Scotland, with Brazil set to kick off its campaign against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday, June 13.
Ancelotti said Neymar remains an important talent for Brazil and noted the forward has improved a lot recently and is playing regularly since returning to Santos after a difficult spell at Al Hilal and a long run of injuries. The manager added the choice is not easy and requires weighing pros and cons across several dimensions.
The timeline is sharp: Neymar last played for Brazil on October 17, 2023, when he suffered a torn cruciate ligament against Uruguay and was sidelined for nearly a year. He has not been called back to the national team since that injury, but his inclusion on the 55-man list puts him back into the selection frame ahead of the May 18 deadline.
For extra perspective inside the camp, Davide Ancelotti said Neymar’s physical condition is improving and reiterated that the long list will be trimmed to 26 players by May 18. Davide also warned that environmental factors such as heat and modern tactical trends — including defensive discipline and set pieces — will matter in selecting a squad for the June–July tournament in North America.
Team harmony features prominently in Ancelotti’s calculus. He told reporters he knows Neymar is very well-liked by teammates and the public, and that the locker-room atmosphere would tolerate his presence. Ancelotti said the internal environment is very positive and very calm, and that it would remain so "with or without Neymar,” though he acknowledged he cannot control the external media reaction.
That tension — between a stable internal group and an unpredictable external narrative — is the clearest friction point. Ancelotti said players have expressed opinions and that he is grateful for advice, but insisted the final call rests with him. He did not signal a tilt toward or away from Neymar beyond confirming the manager’s duty to assess fitness, form and the squad’s needs.
The facts narrow the coming days. Brazil must deliver a 26-player roster on May 18, and Ancelotti’s team will travel to the United States for a World Cup that runs June 11 to July 19. Neymar’s candidacy will hinge on the fitness reports and the coaching staff’s assessment of how his inclusion would affect both performance and the internal dynamic Ancelotti says is under control.
In the end, Ancelotti framed the decision as his responsibility alone: he thanked those who offered views but said the most suitable person to decide is the head coach. With Neymar back on the provisional list and physical signs of recovery, the coach now carries the burden of a choice that will be made public on May 18 and will shape Brazil’s squad for its June 13 opener at MetLife Stadium.
