Wesley ruled out of 2026 World Cup as Ancelotti calls up Manchester United’s Ederson

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has been forced into an early squad change ahead of the 2026 World Cup after right back Wesley was ruled out with a left-adductor muscle injury, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed. In response, Ancelotti has called up midfielder Ederson — described in reports as Manchester United’s incoming signing from Atalanta — to join the squad in the United States.

Why it matters

Wesley had been expected to start at right back for Brazil, so his absence removes a first-choice option for Ancelotti at a defensive flank position just before the tournament. The call-up of Ederson, a central midfielder, represents a tactical and selection decision that prioritises midfield depth rather than replacing Wesley with a natural right back.

What the CBF and Ancelotti said

According to the CBF statement cited by the report, imaging revealed a muscle injury in the adductor of Wesley’s left thigh. The federation expressed sympathy for the 22-year-old, who will miss what would have been his first World Cup. Ancelotti had already indicated options at right back — naming Danilo as a candidate and mentioning Roger Ibanez — before the replacement decision was confirmed.

Selection choice: midfielder called up to replace a defender

Ederson is a central midfielder by trade. His inclusion to replace an injured right back has prompted questions about Ancelotti’s approach: the coach appears to be keeping midfield reinforcements available while relying on versatile defensive options such as Danilo, Roger Ibanez and Fabinho to cover the right flank if required.

At his post-match press conference after Brazil’s 2-1 friendly win over Egypt — in which Endrick scored the winner and Wesley was forced off after 17 minutes — Ancelotti outlined how Danilo and other squad members could fill the right-back role. The CBF later formalised Wesley’s withdrawal following medical tests.

Context: Ederson and Manchester United link

The report references an ESPN story saying Manchester United had reached an agreement with Atalanta to sign Ederson for a fee reported around $47 million plus potential add-ons. The World Soccer Talk piece describes Ederson as Manchester United’s reported new signing and says he will join the Brazil delegation in the United States on Monday.

• Wesley ruled out with an adductor muscle injury after leaving the Brazil vs Egypt friendly early.
• CBF confirmed the injury via MRI and announced his withdrawal from the squad.
• Ederson, a central midfielder reported to be joining Manchester United from Atalanta, has been called up as Wesley’s replacement.
• Ancelotti expects Danilo (and potentially Roger Ibanez or Fabinho) to cover the right-back spot in Wesley’s absence.

Implications for Brazil’s squad and tactics

The decision to add a midfielder rather than a specialist right back suggests Ancelotti is prioritising central options and trusting multi-position players already in the squad to plug the defensive gap. That alters the immediate selection debate for Brazil’s defensive flank but keeps the coach’s midfield resources fuller heading into the tournament.

What happens next

Ederson is expected to join Brazil’s delegation in the United States as the team prepares to finalise plans for the World Cup. The CBF and Brazil coaching staff may provide further updates on squad roles and any timetable for Wesley’s recovery, and final confirmation of Ederson’s club status should be checked against official announcements from Manchester United and Atalanta.