Why was João Pedro left out of Brazil's World Cup 2026 squad by Carlo Ancelotti?

The 24-year-old, João Pedro, has scored 20 goals for Chelsea this season.

Having won the competition on five occasions, the Brazil national football team are the record winner of the FIFA World Cup. They will now be looking to win the prestigious title for the sixth time.

The upcoming edition of the mega competition is scheduled to take place in Canada, Mexico and the USA. A total of 48 teams will be looking to battle it out, and the most deserving will be crowned as the world champions. With 104 fixtures to be played, FIFA’s flagship tournament is all set to begin on June 11. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, on July 19.

Carlo Ancelotti has finally announced the list of players that will represent Brazil at the biggest stage of them all. The 26-man squad will now be gearing up to battle it out on the world stage. Before the competition begins, Selecao will face Panama and Egypt in international friendly games.

Also read: Will Cristiano Ronaldo be included in Portugal’s World Cup 2026 squad?

Why will João Pedro not be at 2026 World Cup?

Even though João Pedro has performed well for Chelsea this season, he has not been included in the final 26-man squad to represent Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 2026. This comes as a shock to a lot of fans. His efforts in the Premier League have been top-notch.

But because of heavy competition for the attacking places, the 24-year-old is not going to the upcoming edition of the mega tournament.

Carlo Ancelotti stated, “Believe me, I am SAD for João Pedro. With the season he is having, he probably DESERVED to go to the World Cup. However, with all possible respect and with so much competition, we chose other players ahead of him… But we truly feel sorry for João. I’m sorry.”

On the other hand, fan favourite Neymar Jr., who was a major doubt for the whole year, has been included in the squad. He will most likely take part in what could be his final edition of the FIFA World Cup.

João Pedro’s statement after being left out of World Cup squad

“I tried to give my best at all times. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfill this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be”.

“Joys and frustrations are part of football. From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there and I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home”.

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