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Neymar and Raphinha have shared a touching moment of celebration following the announcement of Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.
The legendary striker, whose inclusion had been the subject of intense speculation, was seen in tears as he linked up with his close friend and Barcelona star to process the news.
An emotional call between stars
The bond between Brazil’s biggest stars was on full display this week after Carlo Ancelotti officially confirmed his squad for the upcoming tournament.
Barcelona forward Raphinha was among the first to reach out to Neymar, initiating a video call that captured the veteran striker’s raw emotions.
After months of debate over his fitness and role in the national set-up, the confirmation of his place in the squad clearly meant the world to the former Paris Saint-Germain man.
In a clip shared on social media, Neymar Jr. in tears as he spoke to Raphinha and emphasized the unity of the Seleção camp.
The veteran is expected to spearhead a talented front line as Brazil look to end their long wait for a sixth world title on the pitch in North America.
Neymar’s bold promise for 2026
Despite the tears, it didn’t take long for Neymar’s trademark confidence to shine through during the conversation.
He used the moment to send a defiant message to the rest of the world, making it clear that he believes this is Brazil’s year.
“Thank you Raphinha for everything. From the bottom of my heart you know the affection I have for you. It’s all going to be fine, we’re going to WIN this damn thing,” the forward declared during the emotional exchange.
The interaction highlights the leadership role Neymar continues to play even as younger stars such as Raphinha take on more prominent roles at club level with Barcelona.
The video, which originated from the Neymar Jr channel on YouTube, has quickly gone viral with fans eager to see if the Santos star can finally secure the one trophy that has eluded his illustrious career.
Surprising omissions and squad depth
While the focus remained on Neymar’s return, the team’s announcement was not without controversy.
Perhaps the biggest shock was the exclusion of Chelsea’s Joao Pedro.
The striker has enjoyed a prolific campaign in the Premier League and was heavily linked with a potential move to Barcelona, yet Ancelotti opted for other profiles in his final selection for the summer tournament.
With Neymar and Raphinha confirmed as the duo to watch, the pressure will be huge on the five-time champions to perform from the opening whistle in June.
The road ahead to the Seleção
Brazil’s journey in the group stages looks manageable on paper, but they will need to be at their best to avoid early scares.
They are scheduled to face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in the opening phase of the competition.
The team is set to assemble at the Granja Comary on May 27 before playing a friendly against Panama at the Maracana on May 31.
This will be fans’ last chance to see the team at home before they travel to the US on June 1.
Brazil will face Egypt in a final warm-up match in Cleveland on June 6 before their tournament opener against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s June 12 opener against Paraguay (9 p.m. ET).
