FIFA 2026: Neymar’s Brazil Comeback Headlines Croatia’s Modric Captaincy News

The excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is growing rapidly as football giants Brazil and Croatia officially announced their squads for the tournament. The biggest headline from Brazil’s camp is the return of star forward Neymar, who is back in the national team after nearly three years due to injury problems. Meanwhile, Croatia once again placed its trust in veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who will captain the side in what will be his fifth World Cup appearance. Brazil’s new head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Neymar has regained full fitness after playing consistently over recent months. The 34-year-old forward previously represented Brazil in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups and is now preparing for his fourth consecutive appearance on football’s biggest stage. Brazil has been placed in Group C and will begin its campaign against Morocco on June 13, followed by matches against Haiti and Scotland. The Brazilian squad also includes goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who returns after injury, along with attacking stars Vinicius Junior and Raphinha. Young talents like Endrick and Ryan have also been selected. However, Chelsea striker João Pedro was left out despite an impressive club season. On the other hand, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic announced a 26-man squad led by Luka Modric. The experienced midfielder could achieve 200 international appearances during the tournament. Despite recent concerns over a cheekbone injury, Croatia remains hopeful that Modric will be fit for the opening match against England on June 17. Croatia’s squad also features experienced forward Ivan Perisic and key midfielder Mateo Kovacic. Croatia, runners-up in 2018 and third-place finishers in 2022, will compete in Group L alongside England, Ghana, and Panama. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to become the biggest tournament in football history. For the first time, 48 teams will participate, divided into 12 groups, with the event jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico across 16 cities. The tournament will begin on June 11 at Estadio Azteca and conclude with the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19. FIFA has also introduced a new tournament structure featuring a “Round of 32,” allowing more teams to qualify for the knockout stages. In total, fans will witness 104 matches over 39 days, making it the largest and most exciting World Cup ever held.