The Italian Carlo Ancelotti, at the end of the cycle at Real Madrid, was appointed Monday coach from Brazil to the World-2026, with the mission of relaunching a very badly in point to a little over a year of the tournament.
“The biggest selection in the history of football will be led by the most victorious coach in the world,” said the Brazilian football confederation (CBF) in a brief press release.
At 65, the holder of the trophy record in the Champions League as a coach (5) will thus take the reins of the most titled national team in the World Cup (5).
This announcement puts an end to a month and a half of suspense, since the dismissal of Dorival Junior at the end of March, after the monumental beating (4-1) against Argentina.
First European on the bench
This is the first time that the Brazilian national team has been trained by a foreigner for 60 years and the ephemeral passage of the Argentinian Filpo Nuñez in 1965.
The CBF said that the Italian would already be on the Seleçao bench for matches against Ecuador, June 5, then Paraguay, on the 10th, in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
This could allow him to lead Real Madrid for the last three games of the Spanish championship season, even if neither the Madrid club nor the CBF gave precision on this subject. The last Liga meeting is scheduled for May 25, facing Real Sociedad.
Brazil in pain
“Bringing Carlo Ancelotti to train Brazil is more than a strategic movement. It is a way of telling the world that we are determined to return to the highest step of the podium, “said Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF, quoted in the press release.
Brazil has run after its sixth title since 2002.
Four days before the end of qualifications for the 2026 World Cup, Brazil is fourth, ten points from Argentinian leaders, and stars like Vinicius (Real Madrid) or Raphinha (FC Barcelona) struggle to display the same level as with their club.
Its qualification for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico does not seem compromised but the results and the level of play displayed are unworthy of its rank.
The fourth coach
Before the arrival of Ancelotti, Brazil saw three selectors parade.
Ramon Menezes had taken the reins as a temporary worker for four friendly matches in the first half of 2023, while “Carletto” was already expected to direct the Seleçao, before finally extending his contract with Real until 2026.
Fernando Diniz had then held less than a year, causing the price for a defeat against the Argentines (1-0), in the middle of the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, before Dorival Junior also took the door at the end of a humiliation against the historic rival (4-1).
