Striker Luiz Henrique, one of Botafogo's most important players (Photo: Vitor Silva/Botafogo) The Brazilian team, led by coach Dorival Júnior, is preparing for a new challenge in the 2026 Copa do Monde qualifiers next Friday (16) , the squad list. as the games played in Ecuador and Paraguay will be broadcast, hopefully bringing news. With Europe's main leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1) still returning from the summer holidays, the idea is for the coach to select players from the Brazilian Championship, making the most of the team's physical well-being. some of the most active athletes in the country.
Since the elimination of the Copa América in Uruguay, Dorival Júnior has insisted that he is keeping an eye on the players' behavior, unlike the Brasileirão. In the months of June and July, international competitions delayed the start of tournaments, leaving many players still without the chance to compete in the Qualifiers tournaments. So Dorival Júnior saw the Brasileirão players as an opportunity to build a more competitive team.
Among the names that may appear on Dorival's list, one of the most talked about is Luiz Henrique, from Botafogo. One of the main players in the Brazilian Championship, he was directly involved in 14 goals (7 goals and 7 assists) this season. He was in the Copa América squad and now has a great chance of being called up for games against Ecuador and Paraguay.
Another name that has generated expectations is that of Cruzeiro midfielder, Matheus Pereira. With nine goals and 12 assists this season, the number 10 of the Minas Gerais team has shown himself to be one of the main players in the Brasileirão. Creativity in midfield, something that the Seleção lacked during the Copa América, could be a great asset for Dorival Júnior, who is looking for more ways to strengthen the team's offensive sector.
Flamengo promises to be the Brazilian team that makes the most mistakes in Brazilian selections. The club, which already has players called up from Dorival's initial list, could see its stars called up again. Defender Fabrício Bruno, midfielder Gerson and center forward Pedro are on Dorival Júnior's radar for the matches on September 6th and 10th.
Defender Fabrício Bruno, who played friendlies against England and Spain in March, has maintained his form and could return to the squad. Midfielder Gerson, who has not been called up since September last year, once again stood out against Flamengo, who is now captain of the team. He is another name that could appear on Dorival's list, strengthening the Brazilian team.
Pedro, the country's top scorer with 29 goals this season and the sole leader of the Brasileirão's artillery with 10 goals, is one of the favorites to occupy the center forward position. Flamengo's number 9, much sought after by fans, played in the 2022 World Cup, but has not been called up again since then. Pedro has been a great player and has a great chance of wearing the Seleção shirt again.
Another name with a high chance of appearing on the list is midfielder Paulinho, from Atlético-MG. Galo's number 10 is having another good season in Brazilian football, scoring 14 goals and providing 4 assists so far. Top scorer in last year's Brasileirão, Paulinho could be an option for the Brazilian attack and guarantee his return to the Brazilian team.
It remains to be seen whether the call-up of players to Brazilian football will increase the confidence of Brazilian fans in Amarelinha. Felipe Pereira, editor-in-chief of BonusdeApostas.com, which specializes in betting, said that “calling Brazilian players can motivate fans of Brazilian teams to bet on the Seleção, but everything will depend on the team's improvement on the field”.
FIFA Day and National Team Challenges FIFA Day in September takes place between the 2nd and 10th, with games in Ecuador, in Curitiba, and Paraguay, in Asunción. Brazil needs to gain points to recover from the round of 16 and guarantee a good place for the 2026 World Cup without fighting over dates with the clubs.
The first match will be against Ecuador, on September 6th, at the Couto Pereira Stadium, in Curitiba. Ecuador is growing internationally and promises to be a formidable opponent for the Brazilian team. Four days later, Brazil will face Paraguay at the Stade Defensores del Chaco, in Asunción.
After the disappointment of the Copa América, the coach tried to rebuild the team with players who could bring new talent to the team. The inclusion of the Brasileirão is not just a temporary solution, but could be the beginning of a new phase of the Brazilian game, which needs to be rebuilt and be closely linked to what is happening in local squares.