Overview

• Carlo Ancelotti said he will only call Neymar if the Santos forward reaches full physical fitness, rejecting the idea of taking him at 80%.
• Neymar was left out of the recent qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia, with Ancelotti citing a minor muscle issue while the player described the decision as technical.
• The coach said he has spoken with Neymar, who has dealt with knee ligament injuries since 2023, and told him to prepare with the goal of being ready by June.
• Ancelotti envisions Neymar in central roles as an attacking midfielder or striker and ruled out using him wide due to modern physical demands on wingers.
• Brazil has secured a place at the 2026 tournament and plans to assess options in the Oct. 10 friendly in Seoul as part of its evaluation window.