During the June international break, Brazil secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026. That achievement has given them peace of mind heading into the final two qualifiers, knowing their main goal is already accomplished. With that in mind, some of the squad’s stars will reportedly be left out of the next call-up — including Vinicius Junior, and possibly another Real Madrid player.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is planning to leave out Vinicius, considering that a suspension will prevent him from playing against Chile, and the only remaining match would be the away game in Bolivia. Joining him on the sidelines will reportedly be Eder Militao.
According to Jugones, as reported by AS, the Real Madrid defender will not be called up by Ancelotti for the September international break. But this isn’t because the coach believes Militao doesn’t deserve a spot on Brazil’s roster — quite the opposite: Ancelotti wants to spare him the travel and unnecessary wear and tear, preferring that the defender focus on regaining full fitness and rhythm.
Eder suffered a torn ligament in his right knee in November 2024, just one year after experiencing the same injury in his other leg. However, he made an exceptional recovery and already played a few minutes in July against Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
Eder Militao playing for Brazil during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024.
Even without Vinicius or Militao, Brazil’s squad under Ancelotti will likely still include Real Madrid players. Rodrygo Goes, despite not playing a leading role for his club, is expected to be included, along with Endrick.
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Ancelotti’s options without Militao
Eder Militao was a key player for Carlo Ancelotti during their years together at Real Madrid. That status is expected to carry over into his time with the Brazil national team. However, until Militao is fully fit, the coach will need to turn to other options.
In the two matches Ancelotti has managed with Brazil, his center-back pairing consisted of Marquinhos — who also wore the captain’s armband — and Alexsandro Ribeiro. Lucas Beraldo also saw some minutes coming off the bench. Other alternatives include Leo Ortiz and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Brazil’s upcoming matches
On August 25, the Brazilian Football Confederation will release Carlo Ancelotti’s definitive squad list for the final two matches of the South American qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
On Thursday, September 4, Brazil will play their last home game of the qualifying campaign, hosting Chile at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Five days later, they’ll travel to Bolivia for a tough match due to the high-altitude conditions — facing the hosts at Estadio Municipal de El Alto, located 4,095 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level.
