Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti unveiled his final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, with the veteran attacker Neymar emerging as a surprise inclusion that has sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits.
As doubts remain about the form and fitness of the 34-year-old Neymar ahead of the showpiece event, Ancelotti addressed the controversy surrounding the call-up, saying the forward would be treated like any other member of the squad, whether giving a starting position or remaining on the bench.
The expanded 2026 tournament will feature a record number of 48 teams and see the competition being hosted across three countries for the first time, with games scheduled to take place in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Brazil enters the tournament in less than glittering form, but some journalists believe the five-time champions could defy the odds.
Sports journalist Rodrigo Silva noted that Brazil has historically performed well when it is not ranked among the favorites, recalling the team's triumph in 1994, which also marked the last time the World Cup was held in North America.
Fellow journalist Ricardo Neto acknowledged that there are low expectations given the team's poor run of results through the qualifying phase, but said he is confident fans will rally behind the side.
Brazil last lifted the World Cup trophy in 2002 and hosted the tournament 12 years ago, when the then superstar Neymar was injured prior to the team's infamous 7-1 defeat to eventual winner Germany.
In Sao Paulo, fans shared their views on Neymar's role, with many believing his experience could be valuable around the squad, even if he may not be able to recreate some of the magic of his prime years.
"Throughout the year, Neymar hasn't performed as well as we expected, but he still carries influence in the dressing room. He is capable of creating the right environment for the players to give their best. I think that was the main reason for his call-up -- to motivate the team rather than to be decisive on the pitch. But perhaps he'll score a goal there like the one against Croatia [in 2022] and end up being decisive," said Lilian Santos, a local advertising professional.
"He's not at 100 percent physically, but he's the only genius in the squad and couldn't be left out," said Luana Almeida, an administrative assistant.
Brazil is set to open its campaign in Group C against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey, before facing Haiti and Scotland.
Brazil unveils 2026 World Cup squad with surprise inclusion of veteran Neymar
China is ramping up its push for foreign investment by expanding market access during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) targeting the services sector as a prime gateway for global capital.
At a roundtable meeting with senior executives of U.S. multinational companies in China, NDRC officials said the commission has identified key areas of the services sector where foreign enterprises can expect to enjoy broadened access.
"On the basis of a full assessment of existing pilot programs, China will continue to promote an orderly expansion of opening-up in sectors such as telecommunications, Internet, education, culture and healthcare, and steadily advance pilot opening-up programs in value-added telecommunications, biotechnology and foreign-owned hospitals. We will prudently expand the interconnection of financial markets, optimize the qualified foreign investor system, broaden the range of investable products, and advance cross-border two-way direct financing for eligible enterprises in an orderly manner," said Zhao Kun, deputy head of the NDRC's Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment.
The country will also take action to boost domestic spending, a key area of interest for U.S. companies. At the roundtable, the commission announced that China will allocate the fourth batch of 62.5 billion yuan (about 9.3 billion U.S. dollars) in consumer goods trade-in programs this year.
"We treat all market players equally and actively support companies of all ownership types, registration locations and scales of operation in participating in China's equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in programs. We will, as always, continue to support U.S. enterprises in China in seizing opportunities, engaging in equipment upgrade and consumer trade-in programs, upgrading production equipment and facilities, and improving production and operational efficiency. We will also provide advanced equipment and products for other enterprises and consumers, so that they can share in the policy benefits," said Zhang Lupeng, deputy head of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of NDRC.
Officials also emphasized measures to improve China's overall business environment, highlighting plans to better facilitate foreign investment and optimize cross-border data flow management.
According to U.S. business advocacy groups, American companies operating in China welcome new opportunities to invest in the Chinese market.
"Innovation is one of the reasons that our members cite that they want to be here. China's just overall dynamic, we can see it in a number of sectors, but things like green innovation, specifically electronic vehicles (EVs), but also green energy. So it was interesting today we heard from a number of companies who have investment, who have recently made investment, who continue to be interested in the market because it looks like they will have more investment," said Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, after attending the round-table.
Expanded market access in China to attract foreign investment in services sector: officials
