Ancelotti Omits Vinicius Junior From Brazil 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has decided to omit Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior from the squad for the upcoming CONMEBOL 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia in September. Vinícius is suspended for the first match due to yellow card accumulation, and Ancelotti opted not to call him up for the second game, preferring to rest him now that Brazil has already qualified for the World Cup. Meanwhile, other Real Madrid players Rodrygo and Éder Militão, who missed the June qualifiers due to injury, are expected to return to the national team, with Neymar also likely to be included. Brazil currently sits third in the CONMEBOL qualifying standings, behind Argentina and Ecuador, and will aim to secure maximum points in these final fixtures. The squad announcement is expected on August 25. This decision reflects Ancelotti’s strategy to manage player fitness while maintaining a strong team for crucial World Cup qualification matches.