FIFA World Cup rosters: Neymar makes Brazil's 26-man squad; Chelsea's Joao Pedro misses out

The big story on Monday was whether the former Barca and PSG superstar would make the squad, and he did indeed make Carlo Ancelotti's list

Francesco Porzio

May 18, 2026

6:40 pm ET

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10 min read

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The road to the 2026 World Cup is almost over as the 48 teams that will participate in the most-awaited soccer tournament in the world are now in the process of announcing their rosters. Some big names have already been announced, and Neymar is the latest. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti named the 34-year-old superstar to the squad in the most anticipated part of his announcement on Monday.

"I want to be clear, clean and honest. He will play if he deserves to play," Ancelotti said of Neymar, who left Europe for an unsuccessful spell in Saudi Arabia in 2023 before returning to boyhood club Santos last year. "We have training and training to decide who will play. I have an idea of who could be the starting lineup at this moment, but we have to see how they train later, how they are prepared, what physical and mental condition they have to be in the starting lineup. I think it's important not to set an expectation that someone on whether one plays. Each one (on the team) must prioritize to help the team win the cup. I only want players available to help the team win games."

The Brazilian star wasn't included in the latest round of games in March and the Italian manager never explained what his intention was ahead of the upcoming summer tournament. There were several doubts about his possible involvement in the tournament, but in the end, he was called up to be part of the roster led by the former Real Madrid coach. The whole country had been waiting for this moment, though opinions remained divided about the Santos striker, who returned to Brazil's top flight in 2025 after leaving Al-Hilal. His spell in Saudi Arabia was disrupted by an ACL injury suffered shortly after his move from PSG, limiting him to just seven appearances in two years in the Saudi Pro League.

The associations that have yet to announce must provide FIFA with their final squads of between 23 and 26 players, including at least three goalkeepers. A player on the final list can be replaced by a player from the preliminary list in the event of a serious injury or illness no later than 24 hours before the team's first match at the World Cup, while a goalkeeper in the final squad may be replaced by another goalkeeper from the preliminary squad in the event of a serious injury or illness at any time during the World Cup.

We'll keep track of all the official squads for you as they get announced below.

Group A

Mexico: TBA

Korea Republic:

- Goalkeepers: Song Bumkeun (Jeonbuk), Jo Hyeonwoo (Ulsan), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo)

- Defenders: Jens Castrop (Borussia Monchengladbach), Lee Hanbeom (Midtjylland), Park Jinseob (Zhejiang FC), Lee Kihyuk (Gangwon), Kim Minjae (Bayern Munich), Kim Moonhwan (Daejeon), Kim Taehyeon (Kashima Antlers), Lee Taeseok (Austria Wien), Seol Youngwoo (Crvena Zvezda), Cho Yumin (Sharjah)

- Midfielders: Lee Donggyeong (Ulsan), Hwang Heechan (Wolves), Yang Hyunjun (Celtic), Hwang Inbeom (Feyenoord), Lee Jaesung (FSV Mainz), Kim Jingyu (Jeonbuk), Eom Jisung (Swansea), Bae Junho (Stoke), Lee Kangin (PSG), Paik Seungho (Birmingham)

- Forwards: Cho Guesung (Midtjylland), Son Heungmin (LAFC), Oh Hyeongyu (Besiktas)

South Africa: TBA

Czechia: TBA

Group B

Canada: TBA

Qatar: TBA

Switzerland: TBA

Bosnia and Herzegovina:

- Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (FC St. Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka) Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo)

- Defenders: Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Dennis Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nikola Katic (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka), Nidal Celik (Lens)

- Midfielders: Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby), Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher SC), Armin Gigovic (Young Boys), Ivan Basic (Astana), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV), Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Kerim Alajbegovic (Red Bull Salzburg), Ermin Mahmic (Slovan Liberec)

- Forwards: Edin Dzeko (Schalke 04), Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj)

Group C

Brazil:

- Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)

- Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (PSG), Wesley (Roma)

- Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ahli), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo)

- Forwards: Endrick (Lyon/Real Madrid), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester Unite