The family of Chelsea forward João Pedro were left heartbroken after the striker was omitted from Brazil national football team’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A viral video circulating on social media showed the 24-year-old’s relatives gathered together with phones ready as they waited for head coach Carlo Ancelotti to announce the official 26-man squad.
The atmosphere reportedly shifted from excitement to silence after Pedro’s name was not mentioned during the live announcement.
Some family members were seen visibly emotional as the reality of the omission sank in.
Pedro was considered one of the biggest absentees from the squad after an impressive season at Chelsea F.C.
The forward finished the campaign with 20 goals in all competitions and registered 26 combined goals and assists.
The former Brighton attacker also outperformed several selected forwards statistically, including Gabriel Martinelli, Endrick and Matheus Cunha.
Pedro’s omission immediately sparked widespread debate online, with many fans questioning the selection decisions made by Ancelotti.
The Brazil coach later admitted the Chelsea striker had a strong case to make the squad.
Ancelotti said: “Of course, we are sad for Joao Pedro.
“For the season he had in Europe, he probably deserved to be on this list, but unfortunately, with all possible awareness and respect, we chose another player.
“I feel very sorry for Joao Pedro and all the others.”
The Italian manager also defended the inclusion of veteran forward Neymar, who has not played internationally since 2023.
He said: “We evaluated Neymar throughout the year, and we saw that in this last period he played consistently and improved his physical condition.
“We think he is an important player, and he will be an important player in this World Cup.
