Hugo Souza Joins Brazil's Squad as Alisson is Injured Ahead of World Cup Warm-Ups
Synopsis
Corinthians goalkeeper Hugo Souza steps in for injured Alisson Becker in Brazil's national team for FIFA World Cup warm-up matches against France and Croatia. As Brazil prepares for the World Cup, Neymar's absence adds to the team's challenges.
Key Takeaways
Hugo Souza replaces Alisson Becker in Brazil's squad.
Neymar misses out due to muscle fatigue.
Brazil's warm-up matches are against France and Croatia .
The team aims to prepare for their World Cup campaign starting June 13.
Young talents like Endrick and Igor Thiago are part of the new squad.
In Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), on March 21, the South American football confederation announced that Corinthians goalkeeper Hugo Souza has been included in Brazil's lineup for the upcoming FIFA World Cup warm-up matches against France and Croatia in the United States. This decision comes after Alisson Becker, the goalkeeper from Liverpool, sustained an undisclosed injury during his club's 4-0 victory over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday.
At 27 years old, Souza started his professional journey at Flamengo before moving to Corinthians in 2025. He made his international debut last October in a 3-2 friendly loss to Japan.
The Brazilian national team is scheduled to face France in Boston on March 26, followed by a match against Croatia in Orlando just five days later.
Brazil's World Cup journey will commence on June 13 against Morocco, with subsequent matches lined up against Haiti on June 19 and Scotland on June 24, as part of Group C.
Additionally, coach Carlo Ancelotti has excluded star forward Neymar from the squad for these friendlies. Neymar's absence is due to muscle fatigue that caused him to miss a recent Santos FC match, where Ancelotti had intended to evaluate him for the squad.
Despite being Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals, Neymar has not represented the national team since suffering a severe knee injury in October 2023 and has faced challenges maintaining consistent play since his return to Santos last year. During a Kings League event in Sao Paulo, Neymar expressed his disappointment about being overlooked, stating, "But I remain focused, day after day, training session after training session, match after match. We will achieve our goal. The dream continues."
In a bid to revitalize their attacking lineup, Ancelotti has called up 19-year-old Endrick, who will return to international play after nearly a year, and has also extended a first-time invitation to Igor Thiago from Brentford. Brazil is set to face Egypt in another friendly in June before their World Cup opener against Morocco.
Point of View
It's crucial to emphasize the evolving dynamics within the Brazilian football team. With injuries impacting key players, the inclusion of young talents like Hugo Souza and Endrick marks a significant shift as Brazil aims to solidify its position ahead of the World Cup. The team's resilience and adaptability will be put to the test.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who replaced Alisson Becker in the Brazil squad?
Hugo Souza, the Corinthians goalkeeper, has replaced Alisson Becker in the Brazil squad.
What injury did Alisson Becker sustain?
The specifics of Alisson Becker's injury have not been disclosed, but he sustained it during a UEFA Champions League match.
When are Brazil's warm-up matches?
Brazil will play against France on March 26 and Croatia on March 31.
Why was Neymar left out of the squad?
Neymar was excluded from the squad due to muscle fatigue.
Who else was called up to the Brazil squad?
Endrick and Igor Thiago were also called up as part of the squad refresh.
