Carlo Ancelotti surprisingly leaves Vinícius Jr. out of Brazil squad for World Cup Qualifiers

The upcoming September FIFA international break is quickly approaching, marking the last round of South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Only two matchdays remain in CONMEBOL to determine the final teams heading to the global tournament. Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador have already secured their places in next year’s event, but several other nations are still fighting for their ticket.

This break not only serves as the decisive moment for qualification but also as an early test for national squads preparing for the big stage. With fewer opportunities left to experiment, managers must strike the right balance between rotation and stability.

Brazil confirmed on Monday that the official squad list for the final two qualifiers will be announced on August 25 in Rio de Janeiro. The Seleção will first host Chile on September 5 at 2:30 a.m. (local time), before traveling to El Alto, Bolivia, on September 10 for a match scheduled at 1:30 a.m.

These will be Brazil’s last two official games before the World Cup, and the five-time champions want to close the qualifying campaign on a high note. The preparation is especially important as the team adjusts to life under Carlo Ancelotti, who will be managing Brazil at his first World Cup.

Vinícius out, Rodrygo and Militão return

According to Globo Esporte, Vinícius Júnior will not be included in the squad for this window. The Real Madrid winger received a suspension after picking up a yellow card against Paraguay, which rules him out against Chile. Ancelotti decided not to call him up, sparing Vinícius the trip to Bolivia’s challenging altitude of over 4,100 meters in Villa Ingenio.

On the other hand, Rodrygo and Éder Militão will return to the national team. Both players missed the June fixtures against Ecuador and Paraguay due to injury. Now fully recovered, they are expected to play an important role as Brazil fine-tunes its lineup for 2026.

Brazil’s final preparation before the World Cup

This FIFA break will not only determine the last qualifying positions but also serve as Brazil’s dress rehearsal before the World Cup. With players like Rodrygo, Militão, Casemiro, and Raphinha all available, Ancelotti has the opportunity to test his tactical ideas against strong South American opponents.

While Brazil is already qualified, the focus is now on building momentum and ensuring the squad hits peak form at the right time. The upcoming matches will be crucial in shaping the Seleção’s confidence heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.