Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti is clearly delighted to have a player like Casemiro in his squad.
On his very first day as Brazil’s head coach, Ancelotti made headlines with his team selection—most notably for the absence of Neymar. The veteran coach later clarified the decision, explaining that Neymar was left out due to fitness concerns.
After closing the chapter on his time at Real Madrid, Ancelotti arrived in Brazil on Monday. There was little time for rest as he quickly got to work, announcing the squad for Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. While experienced names like Casemiro made a return, Neymar’s omission stood out.
Speaking at a press conference, the decorated club coach addressed the absence of the Santos star.
“I selected players who are in good physical condition. Everyone knows Neymar is a very important player—he always has been and always will be. We have complete faith in him.”
Brazil will face Ecuador on June 6, followed by a home match against Paraguay five days later.
Casemiro, who has 75 caps for the national team, hasn’t played for Brazil in nearly two years. Toward the end of last year, his role at Manchester United also became uncertain. But rather than give in, the midfielder worked hard to reclaim his form and has since regained the trust of coach Ruben Amorim at United.
Ancelotti knows Casemiro’s quality well, having coached him during their time together at Real Madrid. Bringing his former player back into the national fold wasn’t a difficult decision.
“In my opinion, he’s an extraordinary player. I was lucky to work with him. I believe the national team needs this kind of player—someone with charisma, personality, and intelligence. Brazil always has a wealth of talent.”
“In modern football, to succeed, players must be committed to the team, mentally strong, and willing to make sacrifices. Casemiro has all of that. And many of those called up also share those qualities.”
On his very first day in charge, Ancelotti promised to bring Brazil back to the top of world football. But the road ahead is steep, as recent performances have made clear.
The five-time world champions were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the last World Cup by Croatia. Since then, Brazil has been struggling—losing five of their last 14 matches. In the most recent Copa America, they exited early in the knockout stages.
In the current 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Brazil sits in fourth place with 21 points from 14 games. Argentina leads the table with 31 points and has already secured its spot in the tournament.
