Brazil’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup suffered a severe jolt on Sunday when Roma defender Wesley – the sole right-back in Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad – was ruled out after damaging his left adductor muscle during the friendly win over Egypt. An MRI scan in New Jersey confirmed the worst, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) immediately moved to fill the void by calling up Atalanta’s Éderson, a midfielder, leaving the team without a natural replacement for the specialist flank. The timing could scarcely be worse: the Seleção face Morocco in their Group C opener on Saturday, and Ancelotti must now improvise with versatile centre-backs Danilo and Ibañez deputising on the right side of defence.

The episode has stirred deep emotion in Brazil and beyond. Wesley, 22, left the pitch in tears after only 15 minutes in Cleveland, and his wife Amanda Martins later described the moment as “watching a dream slip through our hands.” The player himself posted a poignant message of resilience, vowing to return stronger. It is the first time in two decades that a Brazilian player has been cut from a World Cup squad due to a last-gasp injury – the previous instance was Edmílson in 2006 – underlining the rarity and cruelty of the setback. Moroccan media, eagerly anticipating the opening duel, noted with alarm that the South Americans’ backline will be further unsettled, though Ancelotti calmly insisted he had “adequate cover.”

Éderson, 26, is not a like-for-like replacement. A defensive midfielder who came through the Brazilian system with Cruzeiro and Corinthians before flourishing at Atalanta, he was part of the Europa League-winning side and is reportedly close to a €50 million move to Manchester United. While his call-up adds steel to the midfield, it raises tactical questions about how Brazil will cope without a natural right-back against quick, wide attackers. The CBF statement called Wesley “a much-loved member of the group” and promised he would remain part of the squad’s quest for a sixth world crown, but on the pitch his absence forces a reshuffle that could prove costly.

From the Arab press to Spanish-language outlets, the reaction has been one of disbelief at Brazil’s misfortune. An Argentine newspaper described the blow as forcing Ancelotti to “an urgent and unfavourable revision” of his plans. In London, analysts pointed to a deepening crisis of depth at full-back for a nation that once produced Cafu and Roberto Carlos. With Ederson due to join the squad on Monday, the Seleção have scant time to integrate a player who last featured for the national side over a year ago. As the team flies to the East Coast for its tournament base, all eyes will be on how Ancelotti patches the right flank – a vulnerability that Morocco, and later group rivals Scotland and Austria, will certainly try to exploit.