Brazil’s November Mission: Ancelotti Rebuilds Ahead of Two Key Friendlies
3 November 2025
November Camp: The Squad and the Stakes
Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti unveiled Brazil's squad for the upcoming November international window.
Brazil will play two friendlies during the break, facing Senegal and Tunisia.
The selection includes Palmeiras forward Vitor Roque, with Ederson Moraes returning in goal.
Rafinha remains unavailable for the second consecutive camp due to readiness concerns.
The goalkeepers are Bento, Ederson Moraes (Fenerbahçe), and Hugo Sousa (Corinthians).
Defenders include Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Caio Henrique (Monaco), Danilo (Flamengo), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Fabrizio Bruno (Cruzeiro), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Luciano Joba (Bahia), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Paulo Henrique (Vasco da Gama), and Wesley (Roma).
Midfielders are Andre (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), and Lucas Paquetá (West Ham United).
Forwards are Estêvão (Chelsea), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Luis Henrique (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), and Vitor Roque (Palmeiras).
Brazil had already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Last meeting: Japan handed Brazil their first-ever defeat in this fixture in Tokyo, a historic loss that left a heavy mark on the Selecao.
Brazilian headlines in the wake of the loss were sharp, stressing that there is no room for error on the road to the World Cup.
AS noted that Ancelotti closed October with several conclusions and remaining doubts, even as the main squad appears cohesive while the bench still needs work.
It also pointed out that the defense remains a priority, with Eder Militao and Gabriel Magalhaes essential, while the backups are still finding their footing and Fabrizio Bruno is not among them.
The Cruzeiro defender later apologised, saying the loss does not define his career and pledging to move forward with strength and humility.
He added that there is still a long road to the World Cup and that one mistake should not redefine him; the aim is to learn and return with better form.
The piece stressed the evolution in the Brazil-Japan dynamic, tracing a history from the late 1980s through 2022, highlighting how Japan’s progress mirrors the growth of Asian football.
From the 1989 Rio friendly to the 2022 Tokyo meeting, these clashes have tracked progress for both teams.
In short, Brazil’s November camp is about depth and balance, with Ancelotti weighing options and players hoping to seize their moment in training and friendly matches.
As the calendar turns, the world watches how the defense tightens, how the attack balances stars and squad players, and whether Rafinha can rejoin the fold for future dates.
Punchlines: In football, as in life, timing is everything—Brazil’s defense is currently timing it to perfection… or at least to a comfortable 4-3-3. And if patience is a virtue, Brazil’s rebuild gets a four‑hour TED Talk before the World Cup, because major decisions deserve a dramatic slow-motion replay.
