Coach Carlo Ancelotti announced on Thursday (29), at the headquarters of the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF, the Brazilian football confederation) in Rio de Janeiro, the list of 26 players called up for Brazil's last two friendlies of 2026. The team faces Japan on 14 November at 7.15am Brasília time and Singapore on 17 November at 7am — both matches in Singapore.
The squad includes five debutants at senior level: defender Jonathan Jesus (Cruzeiro), midfielder André Luiz (Corinthians), forward Allan (Manchester City) and the two Shakhtar Donetsk players, Marlon Gomes and Alisson Santana.
Not one name from Flamengo or Palmeiras
The most visible absence is a collective one: there is no player at all from the two clubs deciding the Campeonato Brasileiro, Brazil's national league. The decision was the CBF's, and the criterion was spelled out by its director of national teams, Rodrigo Caetano: "Our criterion was to call up at most one athlete from each Brazilian club, with the exception of the two title contenders."
In other words, each domestic club released a maximum of one player, and the two chasing the trophy released none. According to the CBF, the clubs with called-up players were contacted and raised no objection.
Six of the 26 play in Brazil: Pedro Morisco, Arthur Dias, Jonathan Jesus, André Luiz, Danilo and Gabriel Bontempo.
The full squad
Goalkeepers (3): Bento (Al-Nassr), Lucas Perri (Torino), Pedro Morisco (Coritiba).
Defenders (9): Arthur Dias (Athletico-PR), Carlos Augusto (Inter Milan), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Jair Cunha (Nottingham Forest), Jonathan Jesus (Cruzeiro), Vanderson (Monaco), Vitor Reis (Manchester City), Wesley (Roma).
Midfielders (7): André Luiz (Corinthians), Andrey Santos (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Arsenal), Danilo (Botafogo), Gabriel Bontempo (Santos), João Gomes (Aston Villa), Marlon Gomes (Shakhtar Donetsk).
Forwards (7): Alisson Santana (Shakhtar Donetsk), Allan (Manchester City), Endrick (Real Madrid), Estêvão (Chelsea), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vini Jr. (Real Madrid).
What the coach said
Of the Cruzeiro defender, Ancelotti said: "Jonathan Jesus looks to me like a very strong centre-back, very quick, aggressive, intelligent." Speaking about the new names in general, he said each has different qualities and that the stage now is getting to know them better.
The group should be fully available on 10 and 11 November, when preparation for the Japan match begins.
It is the year's last window, and the reading that imposes itself is of a cycle in which the coach is still testing parts — five debuts in a list of 26 is not the arithmetic of a settled side — while the domestic calendar presses for room.
With information from the CBF, Diário do Pará and VG Notícias.
