Five stars who will not be called up to Brazil squad for friendly vs India
Earlier Carlo Ancelotti had announced that he would move on from these players.
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A historic night awaits at the City of Joy as the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, also popularly referred to as the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, is set to host the biggest fixture in the history of Indian football as five-time world champions Brazil take on Indian Football team on October 3, 2026.
In just a few hours, Brazil‘s head coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to announce his final squad that will be travelling to Asia to play three friendlies in Townsville, Brisbane and Kolkata. In this article, we take a closer look at all the big names who will not be called up to the Brazil squad ahead of the friendly against India.
The South American giants are the most successful team in the history of the FIFA World Cup. However, since winning the World Cup back in 2002, they have failed to make it to the Finals, with their best edition in 2014 on home soil, ending in a 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semifinals.
In the 2026 edition, they topped Group C but had to settle for just a point against Morocco. After trailing Japan in the Round of 32 clash, Ancelotti’s men scripted a comeback win, only to bow out of the Round of 16 with a 2-1 defeat to Erling Haaland’s Norway.
Brazil is going through a transitional phase, with many veterans bidding adieu after the 2026 World Cup. Ancelotti is spearheading the new and exciting era of Brazilian football. The Brazil team will be in action for the first time after the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the upcoming Asia friendlies against Australia and India.
5. Alex Sandro
One of the greatest left backs of all time, Sandro was part of the 2019 Brazil squad that won the Copa America. Donning the yellow jersey from a very young age, Sandro won the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the CONMEBOL U-20 Championship with the Brazil U-20 team.
He has won a trophy with every single club he has played for. From winning Serie A five times with Juventus to lifting the Copa do Brasil with Flamengo and Santos, he is one of the most decorated fullbacks.
Despite being selected in the World Cup, he just played 8 minutes in the entire tournament and mostly started from the bench. With his growing age, he is likely to be out of Ancelotti’s long-term plans.
4. Fabinho
A product of Real Madrid’s youth setup, the defensive midfielder has won the Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool before making a switch to Al Ittihad, where he won the Saudi Pro League.
Fabinho made three appearances for the Brazil team in the FIFA World Cup, and he failed to make an impact. Given his fitness and the emergence of midfielders from Brazil in top European leagues, he is less likely to be selected for the friendlies against India.
3. Casemiro
From captaining the Brazil national team just a couple of months ago to being sidelined by the same gaffer, with whom he won the Champions League twice with Real Madrid. One of the best defensive midfielders in world football, Casemiro will also be dropped from Ancelotti’s squad ahead of the Asia friendlies.
After spending four seasons at Old Trafford, he departed United to join MLS side Inter Miami. He is one of the very few players on this planet to win five UEFA Champions League titles and three FIFA Club World Cup titles with the same team.
Also Read: Where & how to watch Brazil’s squad announcement for India friendly?
2. Danilo
Danilo started the FIFA World Cup strongly for Brazil and was one of their best players against Scotland and Haiti. However, his performance against Norway and Japan in the knockout fixtures was underwhelming.
Playing right back for Selecao has never been easy for any player, and Danilo has been the most creative outlet for the South American giants. However, with the emergence of players like Vanderson from Monaco, Ancelotti will likely drop Danilo for the friendlies against India and Australia.
1. Neymar Jr.
Destiny could not have written Neymar’s final few moments in the Brazil jersey any better. The 34-year-old striker is arguably one of the greatest football players the world has ever seen. However, frequent injuries and inconsistent game time saw him miss out in the Selecao team for a long time.
The world bowed down to Neymar, who scored the penalty against Norway in a 2-1 defeat to bring the curtain down on his glorious footballing career internationally. Many fans in India would have loved to see Neymar come to India and play, but the legend has taken retirement from international football.
When will Carlo Ancelotti announce Brazil’s squad for the India friendly?
Carlo Ancelotti will announce Brazil’s 26-member squad on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 11:30 PM IST. The announcement will take place at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.
Where can Indian fans watch Brazil’s squad announcement live?
Indian fans can watch the announcement live on CBF TV’s official YouTube channel from 11:30 PM IST.
When and where will India play Brazil?
India will face Brazil on October 3, 2026, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata. The match will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network and streamed on SonyLIV.
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