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Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that there will be no ‘red carpet’ treatment for Neymar at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Instead, Ancelotti will not assign Neymar to his preferred position throughout the World Cup campaign.

As known, Neymar’s inclusion in Brazil’s World Cup squad under Carlo Ancelotti came as a surprise to many.

Despite struggling with injuries, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward has still been selected for the global football event held every four years.

The Brazil national team has been drawn in Group C alongside Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti.

Neymar’s form this season has impressed Ancelotti enough to warrant his call-up.

Unfortunately, the star forward suffered a calf injury soon after joining the training camp, forcing him to miss the friendly match against Panama last Sunday.

He is expected to be sidelined for around two weeks, which puts his participation in doubt for Brazil’s opening match against Morocco on June 13.

This situation is certainly worrying for Neymar, as his chances of starting are now uncertain. Ancelotti has made it clear that Neymar will not automatically secure a place in the starting lineup.

Moreover, Neymar will not be deployed on the left wing—his favourite position—but rather as a central attacker. However, he will need to compete with Vinicius Junior and Raphinha, who currently occupy similar roles.

“Neymar has to play in the position he is used to. He plays in the middle; he cannot play on the wing,” said Ancelotti, as quoted by ESPN.

“He will not play as a winger; he will play centrally, either as a forward or an attacking midfielder. Those positions are currently taken by Vinicius and Raphinha,” added the former Real Madrid and Everton manager.

At 34 years old, Neymar is among the veteran players in Brazil’s squad, alongside Weverton (38), Alex Sandro (35), Danilo (34), and Casemiro (34).

The Brazil team features only four players under the age of 25, with Endrick and Rayan, both 19, being the youngest members.

In the 2026 World Cup, Brazil is grouped with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. All three group-stage matches under Ancelotti’s leadership will be played in the United States.

Brazil remains the most successful nation in World Cup history, boasting five titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).

During the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Brazil finished fifth with 8 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses.

Currently, Brazil sits sixth in the FIFA World Rankings. In their last World Cup appearance, they reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Croatia on penalties.

Dream Final: Brazil vs Argentina

Brazil is viewed as one of the top contenders for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title.

This sentiment is echoed by Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi’s manager, Wibi Anhari, who believes Brazil would be the ideal opponent for Argentina in the World Cup final.

As a football enthusiast, Wibi—who also facilitated Rivan Nurmulki’s move to Wolfdogs Nagoya last season—has placed Argentina as her favourite to win the tournament.

However, she also believes that Brazil has the potential to reach the final, thanks to Neymar’s presence.

“If I had to pick a champion, it would be Argentina, and my favourite player is Lionel Messi,” Wibi Anhari told Tribunnews on Monday (June 1) night WIB.

“An Argentina vs Brazil final would be ideal. Argentina has Messi, and Brazil has Neymar,” she added.

Like Argentina, Brazil possesses a formidable attacking lineup.

Under Carlo Ancelotti, the Selecao will rely on Raphinha and Vinicius Junior, both in excellent form in LaLiga. Meanwhile, Endrick—currently on loan at Lyon—has notched 8 goals and 8 assists, making him another potential game-changer for Brazil in the 2026 World Cup.

(Tribunnews.com/Giri)