Ancelotti Makes Bold Brazil Changes, Recalls João Pedro And Raphinha For New Era

Brazil have recalled Chelsea forward João Pedro and Barcelona captain Raphinha for their upcoming international friendlies as head coach Carlo Ancelotti begins a major rebuilding process following the country’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign.

The Brazilian Football Confederation announced a 26-man squad on Wednesday for the team’s upcoming matches against Australia and India, with Ancelotti using the first post-World Cup selection to introduce several new faces while retaining some experienced players.

According to Bush Radio Academy, João Pedro’s return is one of the notable developments in the squad, while Raphinha has also been recalled after missing the 2026 World Cup through injury. João Pedro was among the players left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad.

The new squad features a blend of established stars and emerging talents, including Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Estêvão, Rayan, Samuel Lino, João Pedro and Raphinha. Experienced defenders Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos, as well as midfielder Bruno Guimarães, have also retained their places.

The selection includes eight players who are yet to make their senior international debuts, highlighting Ancelotti’s intention to give younger talents an opportunity to establish themselves in the national team. The coach has said he wants to prioritise players who can form the core of Brazil’s squad for the 2028 Copa América and 2030 World Cup.

Ancelotti described the squad as a balanced group containing players from the World Cup, promising youngsters and footballers performing well in Brazil. He also indicated that experienced players who were not selected this time could still return to the national team in future.

Brazil will begin the new cycle with two matches against Australia. The first will take place in Townsville on September 25, followed by another encounter in Brisbane on September 29. The team will then face India in Kolkata on October 3, marking the first senior international meeting between the two nations.

The extended international window gives Ancelotti an opportunity to assess a wider group of players as he works towards building a team capable of competing for major honours in the next international cycle.

Brazil are also scheduled to face Japan and Singapore in November, providing further opportunities for the Italian coach to assess emerging talents and develop his preferred squad ahead of the 2028 Copa América and 2030 World Cup.