Ancelotti Prepares Brazil for World Cup Kickoff After Longest Title Drought. Carlo Ancelotti is leading Brazil at the World Cup for the first time. The team begins its campaign after a disappointing qualification and the longest stretch without a title. Ahead is the match with Morocco and fans’ mounting expectations.
The Brazil national team begins its 2026 World Cup campaign under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, who is taking on his first international role after leaving Real Madrid. The team enters the tournament with its longest title drought in recent decades and after an unsuccessful qualifying campaign, where Brazil finished only fifth, recording more losses than other South American participants.
The first match against Morocco, which became the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022, immediately presents Ancelotti with a tough challenge. Only one player on Brazil’s squad has lived through the infamous 1-7 defeat to Germany in 2014: Neymar, who will miss the start due to injury. In his place, the young Endrick or Igor Thiago from Brentford may lead the attack, while key roles up front will be played by Vinicius Junior and Raphinha.
In defense, the focus is on the pairing of Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães, despite concerns on the flanks, where the aging Douglas Santos, Danilo, and Alex Sandro play. In midfield are the revamped Casemiro and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães. According to Vinicius Junior, Ancelotti’s arrival has changed the team’s atmosphere, adding calm and confidence despite the pressure and criticism for calling up veterans and overlooking some younger players.
Ancelotti could become the third coach in history to win both the Champions League and the World Cup if Brazil succeeds. The coach himself emphasizes that it is an honor for him to work with the most decorated national team in the world, and notes that the team is ready for any opponent. Even a draw in the first match will not be a disaster — matches against Haiti and Scotland are still ahead.
The Brazil vs. Morocco match will take place at the New York New Jersey Stadium, which will also host the tournament final. The city is expecting a large number of fans from both countries, and local authorities are preparing an extensive security operation. At the same time, the NBA Final featuring the New York Knicks will be held in New York, adding extra strain to the city infrastructure.
Since 1978, Brazil has traditionally advanced from the group stage at World Cups, but there is increased pressure on results in this tournament following a long title drought. Winning the group could set up a quarterfinal clash with England, making the opening match crucial for Ancelotti's plans.
The topic of pressure on national team coaches has become increasingly relevant in recent years. For example, recently, Julen Lopetegui agreed to coach Qatar after his failure with Spain, which also sparked discussion in football circles.
For reference: Brazil is the only country to have participated in all final stages of the World Cup. The last title was won in 2002, and since then, the team has advanced beyond the quarterfinals only once. In 1994, when the tournament was also held in the USA, the Brazilians ended a 24-year title drought. Now the situation is repeating: fans are waiting for a return to the top, and Ancelotti will have to meet expectations and criticism to restore the team’s status as favorites.
