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The World Cup simply wouldn't be the same without Brazil, a nation that wrapped the tournament in legend during its early years before going on to reign supreme.
No national side has captured the imagination quite like the Seleção, whose iconic canary yellow kits dazzled as color television became the defining technological breakthrough of the 1960s. They played a brand of soccer from another dimension, with the spirit of 'jogo bonito' resonating across every corner of the globe.
It has now been 24 years since the two-time hosts and five-time champions last stood atop the soccer world, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has left no stone unturned in its bid to end that drought on North American soil this summer.
A highly regarded foreign coach now leads a talented yet far from golden generation of Brazilian players, and expectations heading into 2026 had been unusually subdued. But with the tournament finally here, a soccer-mad nation believes fate may be smiling upon them as they chase a sixth World Cup title.
Here are the four biggest storylines surrounding Brazil at the 2026 World Cup.
'Rumo ao Hexa'
The World Cup has long been a source of national pride for Brazil, and one obsession has taken hold: 'Rumo ao Hexa'—the pursuit of a sixth title.
Ever since Ronaldo's goals propelled them to a fifth trophy in the Far East in 2002, Brazil has entered every tournament expecting to lift the prize. They have been among the favorites at every World Cup from 2006 through 2022 with one exception—2010, when Spain was at the height of its dominance—and the bookmakers were proven right each time.
A glittering squad in '06 failed to deliver, a catastrophic defeat on home soil in 2014 left the nation scarred, and back-to-back quarterfinal exits at 2018 and 2022 only deepened the wounds. The crushing lows have been as dramatic as the euphoric highs, and the country will grind to a halt as Brazil takes on Morocco, Scotland and Haiti across an intense 11-day stretch.
Fans have grown all too familiar with heartbreak, and few were inspired by Brazil's qualifying campaign. Yet optimism is beginning to stir once more, with whispers of 'Rumo ao Hexa' spreading from person to person.
An entire generation has been waiting for a sixth World Cup triumph.
The Last Dance
Neymar Junior joins the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić and Manuel Neuer in making one final appearance on the World Cup stage this summer.
Now 33, Neymar's place in Carlo Ancelotti's 26-man squad for the tournament was far from assured.
Since Brazil's penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in 2022, Neymar's career has taken a sharp downward turn. Hampered by persistent injuries, he had his contract terminated by Al Hilal before returning to his boyhood club Santos at the start of 2025.
Long regarded as the 'Golden Boy' of Brazilian soccer, Neymar boasts a strong World Cup record, and many at home will argue that a sixth title would have already been secured had he not been on the receiving end of a reckless challenge from Colombia's Juan Camilo Zúñiga.
No longer the focal point and managing a calf injury heading into the tournament, Neymar will need to embrace a more limited role within Ancelotti's Seleção this summer.
Ancelotti's Impact
As Jonathan Wilson wrote in The Guardian last year: "For any major nation to turn to a foreign coach is always an admission of failure."
Brazil had reached a point of desperation. Qualifying was a shambles, and in previous formats, a fifth-place finish would have only been enough to enter the inter-confederation playoff round. Thank goodness for FIFA's relentless appetite for expansion.
Brazilian coaches were once considered the finest in the world, but they have rarely featured among the global elite for quite some time. The tenures of Ancelotti's immediate predecessors—Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz and Dorival Júnior, who essentially served as caretakers while Brazil awaited the Italian—ranged from fleeting to forgettable.
Ancelotti's credentials need no introduction. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers the game has ever seen, with silverware following him to virtually every club he has managed. Everton aside. It is easy to see why Brazil chose to break from tradition and embrace foreign influence, something it had long resisted.
Fresh thinking is needed to propel Brazil to a sixth World Cup, and Ancelotti's ability to paper over squad weaknesses and foster team unity gives the Seleção genuine reason for optimism. His first 10 matches in charge yielded just five victories, but there have been encouraging signs in the lead-up to the tournament that his message is beginning to land.
Who'll Play the Lead?
All but one of Brazil's World Cup victories have been defined by a single standout performer. The exception, the 1970 side, may well be the greatest international team the sport has ever produced.
A teenage Pelé lit up 1958 before the eccentric and flamboyant Garrincha took center stage four years later. Romário carried a rather dull and unpopular Brazil side to glory in 1994, and 2002 belonged entirely to Ronaldo's remarkable redemption story.
History, then, suggests that if the Seleção is to win the World Cup this summer, one of their attacking stars will need to step up and deliver something truly special.
The frontrunner for that role is Vinicius Junior, who has faced criticism at home for his relatively modest performances in a Brazil shirt. Yet Vini Jr flourished under Ancelotti at Real Madrid, and the Italian has constructed his attack around the 25-year-old, who will operate in a fluid center-forward position.
Raphinha is more effective than he is spectacular. His numbers at Barcelona speak for themselves, and he is expected to form a partnership with Vini Jr in attack.
Igor Thiago's selection ahead of João Pedro raised eyebrows, but his profile suits what Ancelotti demands. Fellow center-forward Endrick is a ferocious striker of the ball and could emerge as a match-winning option from the bench. The same applies to Bournemouth's Rayan, while Matheus Cunha has a key part to play as the connector between defense and attack.
There is plenty of quality, but genuine world-class talent is in short supply. For Brazil to go all the way this summer, it surely has to be Vini Jr's tournament.