Neymar has been included in the preliminary squad list for Brazil national football team ahead of their final friendly matches before the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The development was confirmed by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano via a post on his official X handle, which revealed that the Brazilian star has made the pre-list while the final decision on his inclusion will be taken in the coming days.
Fabrizio’s statement:
Neymar has been included as part of Brazil pre-list for squad to play the last two friendly games ahead of the World Cup. Final verdict will be in the next days, as @lucas_musetti reports. Carlo Ancelotti will be in attendance for Santos next game to follow Neymar.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to personally attend the next match involving Neymar’s club Santos FC in order to closely evaluate the forward’s physical condition before confirming the final squad.
Softfootball gathered that Neymar could make his long-awaited return to the national team after spending a significant period away due to injury. The 33-year-old attacker has recently returned to action with Santos and has been working to regain full fitness following his recovery.
Ancelotti’s presence at the upcoming match between Santos and Mirassol FC highlights the importance of Neymar’s form and fitness in the coach’s plans. The match will serve as a key opportunity for the Brazilian superstar to demonstrate that he is ready to contribute at the international level again.
The possible recall also comes at a time when Brazil may face injury concerns in attack. Forward Rodrygo, who had been widely considered a guaranteed selection for the World Cup squad, is currently dealing with injury issues that could potentially affect his availability for the tournament.
Neymar remains the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil, having scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for the national team. His potential return would therefore bring both experience and attacking quality to the squad as Brazil prepares for the upcoming global tournament.
Back in December 2025, Neymar had already expressed strong confidence about Brazil’s chances at the upcoming World Cup. The Selecao star publicly declared his belief that the national team has the talent and determination required to pursue a historic sixth world title.
With the final squad announcement expected on Monday, attention will now turn to whether Neymar’s recent performances and fitness levels are sufficient to secure him a place in Ancelotti’s final list as Brazil intensifies preparations for the global competition.
If selected in the final squad, Neymar could feature in a high-profile friendly clash against France national football team. The match will take place at Gillette Stadium and is expected to serve as an important test for both teams ahead of the World Cup.
