Brazil back Ancelotti to end long wait for sixth World Cup

PARIS: Brazil have turned to Carlo Ancelotti in the hope that one of football's most decorated coaches can guide the five-time champions back to the top of the world game and deliver a sixth World Cup title.

The Selecao have not won the tournament since 2002, extending their drought to 24 years — the same span between their 1970 triumph under Pele and their next success in 1994. Ancelotti, 66, took charge after leaving Real Madrid and became Brazil's third permanent coach since the last World Cup.

Speaking recently to the Guardian, Ancelotti said he was embracing the challenge rather than being consumed by the outcome.

I'm not obsessed with winning the World Cup, but I have the pleasure and passion to enjoy the moment I'm living in, leading the most important national team in the world

Ancelotti arrives with a formidable record. He has won the Champions League five times — twice with AC Milan and three times with Real Madrid — and has also secured league titles in Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain.

Brazil's recent struggles

Since lifting the trophy in 2002, Brazil have endured a series of disappointments at the World Cup. They have been eliminated in the quarter-finals four times in the last five editions and reached the semi-finals only once, when they were beaten 7-1 by Germany on home soil in 2014.

Their penalty shootout defeat to Croatia at the 2022 World Cup ended Tite's tenure. Fernando Diniz was then appointed for the start of qualifying for the 2026 tournament but remained in the role for only six matches. Dorival Junior followed, but his spell included a quarter-final exit at the 2024 Copa America. He was removed in March last year after Brazil were beaten 4-1 by Argentina in a World Cup qualifier.

Ancelotti then guided Brazil through qualification, although they ended up fifth in the 10-team South American standings, 10 points behind leaders Argentina. Since then, Brazil have recorded three wins, one draw and two defeats in friendlies, losing to Japan and France as the Italian experimented with different systems.

Squad balance and Neymar call

Ancelotti has retained much of the side that started against Croatia in 2022, with eight of those players still in his squad. He has not been able to call on centre-back Eder Militao or forwards Rodrygo and Estevao because of injury, while Chelsea's Joao Pedro was not selected. Ten members of the 26-man squad are in their thirties and the average age is close to 29.

His decision to include Neymar drew significant attention. The 34-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward is set for a fourth World Cup despite not having played for Brazil since 2023 because of injuries. Now with Santos, Neymar is expected to play only a limited role, with Vinicius Junior seen as the main figure in attack. Matheus Cunha and Raphinha are also viewed as important options, while Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes provide experience in midfield.

At the back, Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes and Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos will join up after the Champions League final.

Ancelotti's own World Cup history

Ancelotti also has personal history with the tournament. Injury ruled him out of Italy's victorious 1982 campaign, and he was an unused squad member in 1986. He later played at the 1990 World Cup, where hosts Italy lost to Argentina on penalties in the semi-finals. Four years later, he was Arrigo Sacchi's assistant when Italy were beaten by Brazil in a penalty shootout in the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

He told the Guardian that the emotional weight of the national side in Brazil stands apart from the European experience.

In other countries, the national team isn't as important as it is in Brazil...Europeans don't have the same love for the national team shirt

Group-stage path and long-term backing

Brazil have been drawn with Haiti, Scotland and Morocco, and open their campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13. If they finish top of the group, their route beyond the first round appears favourable, although they have not defeated European opposition in a World Cup knockout match since 2002.

The Brazilian Football Confederation has already moved to extend Ancelotti's deal through to the 2030 World Cup. CBF president Samir Xaud said the federation wanted to make the most of his presence.

We have the most successful coach in the world. We need to make the most of him being here, so that we are left with a positive legacy for Brazilian football