Carlo Ancelotti Reveals the Reason Why He Didn’t Call Up Joao Pedro.
On Monday, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced his 26-man World Cup roster, notably excluding Chelsea forward Joao Pedro from the squad heading to North America.
Despite recording 15 goals and five assists this season, Pedro was a major reason Chelsea won the Club World Cup last summer; his omission remains surprising.
Ancelotti prioritized a youthful forward line including Endrick and Rayan while recalling veteran Neymar, who played just seven times during 18 months at Al Hilal.
Other notable exclusions include Gabriel Jesus, Thiago Silva, and Andrey Santos. The manager noted these players “will have chances in the future,” per Fabrizio Romano.
Pedro could still make the 2030 World Cup squad, while Brazil enters the North American tournament as one of the favourites at +800 odds per DraftKings.
Ancelotti’s call-up list
The list of 26 players called up by Brazil for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, presented by Carlo Ancelotti, left two names in the spotlight: Neymar, who managed to make it onto the list of call-ups, and João Pedro, the Chelsea forward who was left out in this latest call-up.
The justification for not taking João Pedro with the national team
The Italian coach explained his decision with arguments that go beyond individual performance. “You have to take many things into account. Playing football here is complicated, with the travel, the heat… It’s hard to compare it to Europe. We feel very sorry for João Pedro, because for the season he had in Europe, he deserved to be on this list. But, unfortunately, and with all due respect, we chose another player,” he pointed out, making it clear that the choice was painful but inevitable.
The reasons to bring Neymar
In contrast, Ancelotti was convinced of Neymar’s importance in this group. “We evaluated Neymar throughout the year and saw that in this last period he played regularly, which improved his physical condition. We believe he is an important player and will be in this World Cup, with the same responsibility as the other 25,” he stated. The coach emphasized that, in key positions like the goal, experience carries more weight, and Neymar embodies that value.
“His experience in this type of competition and the affection he has earned within the group can create a better atmosphere and help the team,” he emphasized. The decision is not only based on footballing reasons but also on what Neymar represents for the national team and the locker room.
The absence of João Pedro, despite his great season in England, raises questions about his immediate future and his role in the national team. Meanwhile, Brazil hopes that the mix of youth and experience, along with Neymar’s presence, will be enough to face the World Cup challenge that begins on June 11 with confidence.
