Brazil will be chasing their first World Cup win in two decades when they take to the field in Qatar and we have now identified the 26 men tasked with getting them there.
The South American giants go into the 2022 tournament as the world’s top-ranked team and many of the names on manager Tite’s list are household names having played for some of the world’s biggest club teams.
Tite’s side entered the tournament on a seven-match winning streak, and is unbeaten in their last 15 matches.
But the fact remains that a long World Cup drought will weigh on the team as they look to return home in search of a sixth World Cup title.
The final 26-man Brazil squad for the World Cup
Tite announced his final 26-man squad on Monday, November 7, seven days ahead of FIFA’s November 14 deadline.
The surprising name on the list is 39-year-old Dani Alves, who did not have the best of the season with Pumas UNAM in Mexico.
He is considered Danilo’s backup right-back and is preferred over Tottenham’s Emerson Royale. Alves will be the oldest player in World Cup history if he takes the field in Qatar.
More: Who has won the most World Cups? List of all-time winners in men’s FIFA tournament history
Here is the final 26-man roster.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| GK | 1 | Alisson | Liverpool (ENG) | 30 | 56 |
| GK | 23 | Ederson | Manchester City (ENG) | 29 | 18 |
| GK | 12 | Weverton | Palmeiras (BRA) | 34 | 11 |
| DEF | 4 | Marquinhos | PSG (FRA) | 28 | 70 |
| DEF | 14 | Eder Militao | Real Madrid (SPA) | 24 | 23 |
| DEF | 3 | Thiago Silva | Chelsea (ENG) | 38 | 108 |
| DEF | 2 | Danilo | Juventus (ITA) | 31 | 46 |
| DEF | 16 | Alex Telles | Sevilla (SPA) | 29 | 7 |
| DEF | 13 | Dani Alves | Pumas UNAM (MEX) | 39 | 125 |
| DEF | 6 | Alex Sandro | Juventus (ITA) | 31 | 37 |
| DEF | 24 | Bremer | Juventus (ITA) | 25 | 1 |
| MID | 15 | Fabinho | Liverpool (ENG) | 29 | 28 |
| MID | 5 | Casemiro | Manchester United (ENG) | 30 | 64 |
| MID | 17 | Bruno Guimaraes | Newcastle United (ENG) | 24 | 8 |
| MID | 8 | Fred | Manchester United (ENG) | 29 | 27 |
| MID | 7 | Lucas Paqueta | West Ham (ENG) | 25 | 34 |
| MID | 22 | Everton Ribeiro | Flamengo (BRA) | 33 | 22 |
| FWD | 26 | Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal (ENG) | 21 | 3 |
| FWD | 20 | Vinicius Jr. | Real Madrid (SPA) | 22 | 15 |
| FWD | 10 | Neymar | PSG (FRA) | 30 | 120 |
| FWD | 19 | Antony | Manchester United (ENG) | 22 | 10 |
| FWD | 21 | Rodrygo | Real Madrid (SPA) | 21 | 6 |
| FWD | 11 | Raphinha | Barcelona (SPA) | 25 | 10 |
| FWD | 9 | Richarlison | Tottenham (ENG) | 25 | 37 |
| FWD | 25 | Pedro | Flamengo (BRA) | 25 | 2 |
| FWD | 18 | Gabriel Jesus | Arsenal (ENG) | 25 | 56 |
The most notable absences from the final list are:
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
Gabriel (Arsenal)
Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo)
Renan Lodi (Nottingham Forest)
Mathieu Cunha (Atletico Madrid)
Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa)
Emerson Royal (Tottenham Hotspur)
Gerson (Marseille)
Luiz Henrique (Real Betis)
Rodinei (Flamengo)
Reports in Brazil had already indicated that Philippe Coutinho’s right thigh injury would keep him out for six weeks, forcing him out of the World Cup, although his club form could be enough to make up for his subpar start to 2022. /23 with Aston Villa.
In the end, there was no place for the former Liverpool and Barcelona player, regardless of form or fitness, but Tite is clearly confident his squad has enough talent to go all the way, as the Brazilian looks to expand his squad. The nation’s record for the most five World Cup wins.
Here are the reactions of some of the players who watched Tite’s announcement live: PSG’s Neymar, Manchester United’s Anthony, Tottenham’s Richarlison, and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes:
Por vocês!!! Obrigado, meu Deus!! Obrigado todo mundo… amigos, família, mãe, pai, irmãos!! Amo vocês!!! Emoção demais!! 🇧🇷🇶🇦 @CBF_Futebol pic.twitter.com/Da6aJkkoDx
— Antony Santos (@antony00) November 7, 2022
MAIS UMA COPA PRO NEY! 🇧🇷🏆 Essa foi a reação do nosso camisa 10 ao saber que estará no Qatar. Essa não precisava ser adivinha pra saber, né? 😅 #SeleçãoBrasileira pic.twitter.com/ziIidFA8qz
— TNT Sports BR (@TNTSportsBR) November 7, 2022
The stars, strengths, and weaknesses of the Brazil national team
Currently, on a seven-game winning streak, Brazil has found form at the right time as they head into the 2022 World Cup.
They are among the main contenders to win the tournament, and hopes at home will be sky-high.
Stars
Big names don’t come much bigger than Neymar and the PSG attacker will be injury-free at the World Cup and in good form at the club level.
This current Brazil squad is not short of Premier League stars either, with the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison all looking set to shine in the queue. Richarlison’s recent injury won’t keep him out of Qatar, but Aston Villa’s Coutinho wasn’t so lucky.
Strengths
The key element of any successful Brazilian side attack, that they will not be lacking in this area for the 2022 World Cup.
Tite has played some excellent attacking football with his star-studded squad and they have scored three or more goals in six of their last seven games leading into the tournament. Those strikes have also been shared around, with no player leading Brazil into the final third.
Weaknesses
As with most attack-minded teams, defense inevitably becomes an area of concern and this is the case for Brazil. The lack of pace in their backline leaves them vulnerable to counter-attacks, especially when their full-backs are caught out of position. (Juventus defender Bremer’s call-up should help this area if he sees the field.)
Another cause for concern is their recent World Cup record, with Brazil losing in the quarter-finals in 2018 and losing 7-1 to Germany in the 2014 semi-finals. Those results could once again cast doubt on the pursuit of redemption in Qatar.
🇧🇷 Brazil were the record 5-time champions, hosts and tournament favourites 🏆
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 8, 2021
🤯 #OnThisDay in 2014, however, 'Waiter' @ToniKroos served and scored goals as Germany won 7-1. Was it the most mind-blowing victory in #WorldCup history?@DFB_Team_EN | #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/BYtAM8h2q6
Brazil World Cup Group
Brazil is in Group G along with Switzerland, Cameroon, and Serbia.
The Selecao have twice (1930 and 1966) failed to get out of the World Cup group stage and will be strong contenders to top Group G in 2022.
If they do, they will face the runners-up in Group H, which includes Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea, in the round of 16.
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Thurs, Nov. 24 | Switzerland vs. Cameroon | 5 a.m. | Al Janoub Stadium |
| Thurs, Nov. 24 | Brazil vs. Serbia | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Cameroon vs. Serbia | 5 a.m. | Al Janoub Stadium |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Brazil vs. Switzerland | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Cameroon vs. Brazil | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Serbia vs. Switzerland | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
Brazil vs Serbia squad, lineup
Tite will be looking to make a statement in Brazil’s opening match against Serbia and will undoubtedly be looking to field his strongest team.
With so much talent to choose from, the starting side has varied over the past few years with few positions. Brazil has also moved between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 recently.
Brazil Prediction Starting XI vs Serbia (4-3-3)
GK: Alison
DFs: Danilo — Marquinhos — Thiago Silva — Alex Telles
MFs: Lucas Paqueta – Casemiro – Neymar
FWs: Raphinha – Richarlison – Vinicius Junior
Can Brazil replace players on World Cup roster?
Once the final 26-man roster is official, World Cup teams can only make changes before the first match of the tournament, and only in exceptional circumstances.
According to the official tournament rules, “A player listed in the final list may be replaced only in case of serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before the start of his team’s first match.”
The team in question must submit a medical report to FIFA and a substitution will be allowed if the world governing body determines that “the injury or illness is serious enough to prevent the player from participating in the FIFA World Cup.”
The replacement player must come from a preliminary list of players submitted to FIFA in October.