Brazil boss Ancelotti recalls Vinicius as minor injury keeps Chelsea’s Joao Pedro out
Brazil will face South Korea and Japan in the Far East.
Vinicius Junior has been recalled to the Brazil squad for their upcoming friendlies in the Far East.
Having secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Brazil will begin their preparations for the tournament by facing South Korea in Seoul on October 10 before meeting Japan in Chofu four days later.
Real Madrid star Vinicius was not part of the squad Brazil’s final round of World Cup qualifiers earlier this month amid underwhelming form and questions about his future.
But his former Madrid boss Ancelotti recalled both Vinicius and Los Blancos team-mate Rodrygo, who has struggled for regular game time under Xabi Alonso but provided an assist in the 5-0 Champions League win over Kairat on Tuesday.
Madrid’s Eder Militao is also included despite an ankle issue that kept him out of the defeat of Kairat.
Table of Contents
Brazil leave Joao Pedro out
Neymar, Raphinha, Marquinhos and Alisson miss out due to injuries, while Ancelotti revealed that a minor injury had led him to leave Chelsea’s Joao Pedro out of the squad.
His absence gives Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus another chance to impress.
Igor Jesus scored on his debut for Brazil against Chile last October, though he has not featured for the Selecao since the 1-1 draw with Uruguay in November.
The 24-year-old has four goals in seven games for Forest, albeit with none coming in the Premier League.
“Joao Pedro has a minor physical problem and is not 100 percent,” Ancelotti told a press conference.
“We prefer that he be able to recover his best level calmly on this international break. So it’s a physical problem, and Igor Jesus is a forward who has a very distinct trait.
“I believe that a national team, in an important competition such as the World Cup, must have a central forward of this characteristic, very strong in the area, an aerial threat, a player who fights a lot and has quality in duels.
“I think that the national team must have other strikers within this idea of Igor Jesus’ profile, it could be Kaio Jorge [from Cruzeiro], it could be Pedro from Flamengo.”
Newcastle United’s Joelinton also returns to the squad having missed the final qualifiers due to injury.
Brazil squad in full
Goalkeepers: Bento, Ederson, Hugo Souza.
Defenders: Caio Henrique, Carlos Augusto, Douglas Santos, Eder Militao, Fabricio Bruno, Gabriel Magalhaes, Beraldo, Vanderson, Wesley.
Midfielders: André, Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Joao Gomes, Joelinton, Lucas Paquetá.
Forwards: Estevao, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Jesús, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Richarlison, Rodrygo, Vinicius.