Brazil name Vinícius and Raphinha for Singapore friendlies as Ancelotti tests next generation

Brazil bring star power and 15 young players to Singapore

Brazil have selected Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha and Estêvão for two November friendlies at Singapore's National Stadium, pairing some of football's biggest names with a sizeable group of younger players. Fifteen members of Carlo Ancelotti's squad of 26 are under 23, and five are awaiting their first senior international appearance.

The five-time world champions will face Japan on November 14, 2026, before meeting Singapore on November 17 in the Mizuho Blue Challenge, part of The Kallang Football Series Singapore. Those matches will close Brazil's international calendar for the year.

For spectators, the attraction includes Real Madrid forwards Vinícius and Endrick, Barcelona's Raphinha and Chelsea's Estêvão. For Ancelotti, the trip offers a chance to assess players after Brazil's elimination by Norway in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil enter the series ranked sixth in the world. Japan, ranked 17th, and Paraguay, ranked 34th, join the hosts in a programme of four matches from November 13 to 17. Brazil's meeting with Japan brings a repeat of their World Cup encounter earlier in the year, when Brazil won 2-1 in the round of 32.

Ancelotti's selection was announced on October 29, although October 30 is also given as the announcement date. The squad combines established internationals with players still finding their place at major clubs, making the Singapore fixtures both a public attraction and a practical test of Brazil's options.

Why youth dominates Ancelotti's selection

Fifteen players under 23 account for about 58 per cent of the squad. Nine members are described as being of Olympic age, giving Ancelotti a substantial group to assess for future tournaments alongside the senior national team.

Ancelotti, Brazil's head coach, said the process of renewing the squad would continue through 2027.

During this period leading up to 2027, we must carry out this work to find a clear direction.

Brazil are preparing for the 2028 Copa America and the longer cycle towards the 2030 World Cup. Friendly matches give the coach room to try different players and combinations without tournament points being at stake. The performances still matter to players competing for future selection.

Vinícius, Raphinha, Gabriel Magalhães and Bruno Guimarães provide experience around that younger group. Their presence allows Ancelotti to assess newcomers alongside established internationals rather than changing the entire team at once.

Estêvão gets room to develop

Estêvão, the Chelsea forward aged 19, is among the most prominent young players selected. His return gives Brazil another opportunity to assess an attacking option while allowing him time to develop.

Ancelotti said Brazil would continue following Estêvão's progress and give him room to mature.

As long as we believe he could be useful to the national team, we will follow his progress, allowing him the opportunity to develop at a natural pace, as it's appropriate for a 19-year-old.

Vinícius arrives with a different level of experience. Named The Best FIFA Men's Player in 2024, he has won two UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Endrick, his club teammate, joins an attacking group that also includes Raphinha, Bournemouth's Rayan and two players seeking their first Brazil appearance.

Selection gives those forwards an opportunity to compete for minutes. Ancelotti has yet to announce his starting teams or how he will divide playing time across the two matches.

Allan's rapid rise brings a first call

Manchester City's Allan Elias is one of five uncapped players selected. An uncapped player has yet to appear in a senior international match. The other four are Cruzeiro defender Jonathan Jesus, Corinthians midfielder André Luiz and Shakhtar Donetsk pair Marlon Gomes and Alisson Santana.

Allan, aged 22, earned his place after playing just 10 minutes in the Premier League. City signed him from Palmeiras in August for an initial £32 million, with the fee potentially rising to about £34 million.

His opportunities have been greater in other competitions. On September 17, he scored and supplied an assist on his City debut in a 5-0 League Cup victory over Norwich City. He later played a full match in the Champions League against AEK Athens and started another League Cup match against Brighton.

Ancelotti therefore has several recent club performances to consider alongside Allan's brief league appearance against Liverpool on October 11. The Singapore trip gives the attacker another setting in which to compete for a place, only months after moving from Brazilian football to England.

City defender Vitor Reis is also selected. Across the squad, Ancelotti can assess players established at their clubs alongside others still working towards regular starting roles.

Why Alisson is staying at Liverpool

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is absent again after also missing the September and October international break. Ancelotti has selected Bento, Lucas Perri and Pedro Morisco as his three goalkeepers.

Ancelotti said Alisson remains his first choice and explained that these friendlies provide an opportunity to assess alternatives. The coach described how his selection priorities would change when tournament football returns.

When the Copa America begins, he will be called up, and it's the same for the others. Right now, it's time to observe, refresh the squad, and help young players reach their full potential.

Bento plays for Al-Nassr, Perri for Torino and Morisco for Coritiba. Their inclusion gives Ancelotti three options to examine in training and matches while Alisson remains at Liverpool and avoids the journey to Southeast Asia.

Four fixtures across five days

The National Stadium programme starts with Singapore against Paraguay on November 13. Brazil and Japan meet the following day, before all four teams return for two matches on November 17.

• November 13: Singapore face Paraguay in the opening match.
• November 14: Brazil face Japan.
• November 17: Singapore face Brazil in the first match of the doubleheader.
• November 17: Japan face Paraguay to conclude the series.

Japan's meeting with Brazil follows their narrow 2-1 World Cup defeat. Paraguay also arrive with a notable result from that tournament, having beaten Germany in the round of 32.

For Singapore, the schedule brings two different opponents within five days. Brazil's established attackers will be the biggest draw for many spectators, but Paraguay's World Cup result adds another demanding fixture for the hosts.

Singapore supporters look beyond the score

Singapore coach Gavin Lee faces his own decisions about how to use the friendlies. Supporter Balbindar Kaur, a retiree aged 64 who travelled to Indonesia to follow the Lions during the recent FIFA ASEAN Cup, wants younger players to receive substantial time on the pitch before the Asian Cup Finals.

Kaur named Raoul Suhaimi, Ryhan Stewart, Hami Syahin, Jacob Mahler and Syazwan Buhari among the players she hoped to see given full matches. She said refreshing the team mattered more to her than avoiding defeat.

I don't care if they lose but the team has to be refreshed and they are running out of time before the Asian Cup Finals begin.

Matheus Sena, a Brazilian supporter and senior tax manager based in Singapore, sees a similar purpose in Brazil's selection. The supporter, aged 39, said the window offered an opportunity to test players and begin building a team for upcoming tournaments.

Sena also expects Brazil to face strong pressure to win against the hosts. He described the reaction he anticipates from Brazilian supporters and the press.

The Brazilian press and supporters will expect Brazil to win comfortably and if Singapore gives them a hard time, they will be criticised heavily.

The two supporters bring different priorities to the same fixture. Sena anticipates high expectations for Brazil, while Kaur wants Singapore to use the occasion to prepare players for their next major competition.

Tickets start at S$28

Tickets for Singapore against Paraguay start at S$28. Brazil against Japan starts at S$98, while a single ticket covering both matches on November 17 also starts at S$98.

The opening match therefore has the lowest starting price. At the advertised minimum, the November 17 ticket provides admission to two games for the same starting price as the standalone Brazil-Japan fixture.

Organisers have indicated that remaining tickets are limited. Tickets are available through The Kallang Group's official website, with final availability depending on the match and seating category.

The Kallang Group and Dentsu Sports International are organising the series. It is the first proprietary sports property in The Kallang Group's portfolio, giving the group its own event alongside the international teams appearing at the National Stadium.

Brazil's full squad

Ancelotti has selected three goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards. The list includes players based in Brazil, Europe and Saudi Arabia.

• Goalkeepers: Bento (Al-Nassr), Lucas Perri (Torino), Pedro Morisco (Coritiba).
• Defenders: Arthur Dias (Athletico-PR), Carlos Augusto (Inter Milan), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Jair Cunha (Nottingham Forest), Jonathan Jesus (Cruzeiro), Vanderson (Monaco), Vitor Reis (Manchester City), Wesley (Roma).
• Midfielders: André Luiz (Corinthians), Andrey Santos (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Arsenal), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Gabriel Bontempo (Santos), João Gomes (Aston Villa), Marlon Gomes (Shakhtar Donetsk).
• Forwards: Alisson Santana (Shakhtar Donetsk), Allan (Manchester City), Endrick (Real Madrid), Estêvão (Chelsea), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).

The group brings together established stars, developing internationals and five potential debutants. Brazil's final two matches of 2026 will give Ancelotti another opportunity to decide which players should take larger roles as the team continues its renewal in 2027.

Key Points

• Brazil face Japan on November 14 and Singapore on November 17 at the National Stadium.
• Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Endrick and Estêvão feature in the squad of 26.
• Fifteen selected players are under 23, and five are uncapped.
• Ancelotti says Alisson remains his first choice while other goalkeepers receive opportunities.
• The series also includes Singapore against Paraguay and Japan against Paraguay.
• Tickets start at S$28 for Singapore-Paraguay and S$98 for Brazil-Japan or the November 17 doubleheader.