Carlo Ancelotti Holds the Key: Can He Unlock Brazil's Path to World Cup Glory?

After five straight World Cup letdowns, Brazil bid farewell to tradition by appointing its first-ever foreign manager in Carlo Ancelotti, with the clear ambition of returning the Seleção to the pinnacle of world football.

The union of the most decorated national team and the most successful coach appeared destined for greatness, yet things haven't gone entirely smoothly since Ancelotti took charge in May 2025.

The five-time Champions League winner guided Brazil through the final four World Cup qualifying fixtures, though the team could only manage fifth place in the CONMEBOL table—notably struggling at altitude, drawing away at Ecuador and falling to defeat in Bolivia.

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Since then, it's been nothing but friendlies, making it difficult to gauge exactly what an Ancelotti-led Brazil will look like when the stakes are real.

Brazil thrashed South Korea but fell to Japan, dominated Croatia yet were outclassed by France. In their final two pre-World Cup warmup fixtures, Ancelotti's side defeated Panama 6–2 before scraping past Egypt 2–1. The picture remains far from clear.

Perhaps at no previous point has Brazil entered a World Cup as such an enigma. Scan enough pre-tournament analyses and you'll find the record five-time champions tipped everywhere from outright favorites to potential early exits.

The argument in Brazil's favor is compelling. The Ancelotti factor alone makes them a genuine contender, and few sides in the tournament can match their core of elite talent—Alisson, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Bruno Guimarães, Vinícius Jr, Raphinha.

That said, there remain several challenges the manager must overcome if his team is to end 24 years of heartbreak and claim that long-awaited sixth star.

Can the Fullbacks Step Up?

Historically, Brazil has produced some of the finest fullbacks the sport has ever witnessed. In recent times, however, that has not been the case.

Even before Ancelotti's appointment, the left and right back positions were areas of concern for Brazil, and it remains unclear who the manager plans to field in the Group C opener against Morocco.

Douglas Santos, a 32-year-old currently playing for Zenit Saint Petersburg, started the final pre-tournament game against Egypt and will battle 35-year-old former Juventus defender Alex Sandro—now at Flamengo—for the left back berth.

At right back, the squad is left with just one specialist option—Flamengo's 34-year-old Danilo—after Wesley was forced out of the Egypt match through injury. His vacancy has since been covered by defensive midfielder Éderson.

Unless the fullbacks receive strong protection, Brazil's chances of a deep run may hinge on how effectively Ancelotti can coax veteran performers like Danilo and Alex Sandro into recapturing their best form for the occasion.

Who Leads the Attack?

Another area of uncertainty is the No. 9 position. Richarlison, who led the line at the last World Cup three-and-a-half years ago, has gone 12 international appearances without a goal since Qatar and was omitted from Ancelotti's final 26-man squad. Chelsea's João Pedro was also left out.

While Raphinha and Vinícius Jr pose an enormous threat from the flanks, the central striking options appear considerably thinner.

Ancelotti has consistently placed his trust in Manchester United's Matheus Cunha, yet the 27-year-old has managed just one senior international goal across 23 appearances. Finding a way for Cunha to function as the connective tissue of the attack—rather than its primary finisher—could prove to be Ancelotti's solution.

Brentford's Igor Thiago and Real Madrid's Endrick are his remaining center forward alternatives.

Is There Enough Cover in Midfield?

Ancelotti has trialed a two-striker setup, but adding an extra body in midfield during the World Cup—particularly against stronger opposition—seems like a sensible precaution.

Brazil has the attacking personnel to operate in a 4-2-4, but deploying it in pursuit of joga bonito risks leaving the midfield dangerously exposed. Casemiro—released by Manchester United this summer—remains the central anchor in the engine room and is expected to start alongside Guimarães and/or Lucas Paquetá.

At 34, the former Real Madrid stalwart is unlikely to possess the stamina required to cover the ground left by an attack-minded, defensively disinterested front four—especially in 90°F heat.

How Ancelotti shapes his system to restore midfield balance and control, while still unleashing his attacking talent, represents another critical puzzle to solve.

Can Neymar Avoid Becoming a Sideshow?

Neymar's unexpected inclusion in the World Cup squad was greeted with cheers and tears when Ancelotti announced his selection to an eager crowd at Rio de Janeiro's Museum of Tomorrow last month.

The 34-year-old has not featured for his country in nearly three years and has endured a difficult spell with fitness and form following an ACL injury in 2023. Brazil's all-time leading scorer posted a video of himself in tears, embracing his physio and fitness coach on social media upon learning of his call-up.

Yet for all the excitement surrounding Neymar's comeback story, serious questions linger over whether Ancelotti has inadvertently created a significant distraction heading into this summer's tournament.

Neymar has yet to train with the squad since they departed for their New Jersey base and continues to rehabilitate a calf injury sustained while playing for Santos in May. Now that he's part of the roster, Ancelotti must find a way to harness Neymar's presence constructively rather than letting it overshadow everything else.