Antony and Lo Celso have been included in their respective national teams’ preliminary squads for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Real Betis once again serving as a showcase for the two players. Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has called up Antony, while Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni has included Giovani Lo Celso in his 55-man preliminary list.
Earlier this week, Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini addressed the media ahead of the La Liga clash against Elche, touching on Lo Celso’s inclusion in Argentina’s preliminary squad. “I see him as an absolutely game-changing player, so I have no doubt he will be at the World Cup with Argentina,” Pellegrini said. “But he can’t play 90 minutes on Saturday and another 90 on Tuesday. He had a fairly serious tendon injury, so we are managing each player in the way we think is best.”
Pellegrini also explained why Lo Celso was benched in the previous match against Real Sociedad, citing tactical rotation and player recovery between fixtures.
Meanwhile, Antony has earned a recall to Brazil’s preliminary squad after nearly a year. Ancelotti previously called up the winger for World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay last summer, thanks to his impressive performances at Betis. The 53-man preliminary list—which must be trimmed to 26—includes 13 forwards, among them Vinícius Jr., Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, and a former Betis player, Luiz Henrique.
Interestingly, one notable absence from Brazil’s preliminary squad is Betis center-back Natan de Souza, whose consistent form has not swayed Ancelotti. The defender’s competition comes from Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Gabriel Magalhães, Bremer, and others.
With the World Cup set to take place in Canada, the United States, and Mexico this summer, both Antony and Lo Celso have a strong chance to secure their spots on the plane.
