Brazil’s 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup, named by manager Carlo Ancelotti on Monday, carries unmistakable echoes of the country’s 1994 triumph. Ancelotti, who was part of Italy’s staff that lost to Brazil in that final, has crafted a group that blends individual flair with a foundation of defensive steel. The result is a roster that hints at the ‘magical pragmatism’ that defined Carlos Alberto Parreira’s championship side three decades ago.
This squad leans heavily on attacking talent. Nine of the 26 players are listed as forwards, a luxury made possible by the expanded tournament rosters. Vinícius Júnior, the Real Madrid star, is expected to shoulder a central creative burden, while Neymar returns for his fourth World Cup despite limited recent minutes. Teenage sensation Endrick, reinvigorated after a prolific loan spell at Lyon, earns a surprise call-up, offering another dimension to an already potent frontline that includes Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, and Igor Thiago.
Ancelotti, addressing the media at the squad unveiling, made it clear that individual brilliance alone will not suffice. ‘It may not be the perfect group, but it is a focused, concentrated, humble, selfless group,’ he said. ‘My idea is focused on the collective, not the individual.’ That philosophy mirrors the 1994 blueprint, when the Seleção relied on a rugged midfield double-pivot of Dunga and Mauro Silva to protect a defense that allowed only three goals in the entire tournament.
Defensively, the most glaring vulnerability lies at full-back, where Ancelotti’s options are limited. Veterans Alex Sandro and Danilo—both now at Flamengo—are not natural world-class defenders, and their tendency to push forward could expose the center-backs. However, the heart of the backline is formidable. Marquinhos and Gabriel form a Champions League-proven pairing, while Juventus’ Bremer and Al-Ahli’s Roger Ibañez provide experienced cover. Goalkeeper Alisson remains one of the world’s elite, though he may be called upon to command his area more frequently if the full-backs are caught out of position.
The midfield, though numerically thin with only five selections, carries a blend of steel and composure. Casemiro, who endured a difficult 2024-25 season at Manchester United, has rebuilt his reputation under Ancelotti’s guidance, while Bruno Guimaraes arrives on the back of another stellar campaign at Newcastle. Danilo Santos of Botafogo offers energy, and the veteran duo of Fabinho and Lucas Paquetá—the latter now at Flamengo—adds depth. Still, Ancelotti will need to manage their workload carefully, given the lack of numbers.
The most consequential decision may have been the omission of João Pedro, the Chelsea striker who might have provided a different profile in the box. Instead, Ancelotti has opted for the in-form Igor Thiago, with Endrick and Matheus Cunha as alternative center-forward options. The wide areas offer frightening pace and trickery, with Bournemouth’s teenage winger Rayan poised to become a breakout star.
Brazil’s path to the World Cup was anything but smooth. They lost six qualifying matches—more than in the previous five qualifying cycles combined—and sneaked into the tournament via goal difference. Yet history offers a glimmer of hope: the last time Brazil dropped six qualifiers was in 2002, when they went on to lift the trophy in Japan and South Korea. Ancelotti has leaned on that parallel in private, but publicly he has pointed to 1994 as the more relevant template: a team that had to grind rather than dazzle.
The Italian manager, who won the Champions League twice with Real Madrid before taking the Brazil job, admitted the squad is not flawless but expressed belief in its competitive spirit. ‘I have the knowledge and the confidence that this team can compete with the best in the world,’ he said. ‘Can we win the World Cup and reach the final? Yes, we can make it to the final. But I don’t know if that is enough – the best thing is to get there and win the final.’
Ancelotti’s challenge will be to forge a cohesive unit from a group that, for all its attacking riches, has rarely played together. The manager has had just ten matches to assess his pool, and the tournament will test his ability to impose a disciplined shape that limits risk while unlocking the talents of Vinícius, Neymar, and the rest. If he can strike that balance, Brazil might just produce a repeat of the joyful pragmatism that captivated the world in 1994.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.