Brentford striker Igor Thiago and Bournemouth winger Rayan have received first call-ups to the Brazil squad for their friendlies with France and Croatia later this month. Rayan, 19, joined Bournemouth in January for £24.7m from Vasco de Gama and has scored two Premier League goals. Brazil face France on 26 March in Boston before playing Croatia in Orlando on 31 March, with the fixtures their last matches before Ancelotti names his World Cup selection. "But for the final [World Cup] squad, that's another story." Five-time winners Brazil start their World Cup campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on 13 June, and will also face Haiti and Scotland in Group C.

Source: BBC March 16, 2026 22:37 UTC