Ancelotti Begins Preparations with Brazil to Face Chile and Bolivia
Rio de Janeiro – Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s coach, led the first training session of the Brazilian national team this Monday, preparing for the crucial matches against Chile and Bolivia in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The Italian coach had 19 of the 24 players called up for the two matches present. Three players were held back due to their participation in matches with their respective clubs on Sunday.
The incorporation of Raphinha, Martinelli, Alisson, Caio Henrique and Gabriel Magalhães is expected, who will join the team in Teresópolis.
The concentration of the Brazilian national team takes place at Granja Comary, the modern training center of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), located in Teresópolis, about 100 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil will remain in Teresópolis until September 8, the date on which they will travel to La Paz to face Bolivia in El Alto.
The first to arrive at the gathering were Estêvão, Chelsea player, and Marquinhos, from PSG.
In the first training session, Ancelotti chose to rest Jean Lucas, Lucas Paquetá, and Samuel Lino, who played with their clubs on Sunday.
The Italian coach has left important figures like Neymar, Vinícius Junior, and Rodrygo out of the call-up, due to injuries or tactical decisions. His goal is to evaluate players with less experience in the national team, seeking to define the team that will compete in the World Cup.
This strategy is due to the fact that Brazil has already secured its qualification for the World Cup, ranking third in the South American qualifiers with 25 points, the same as Ecuador and ten less than Argentina.
