Ancelotti Decides Brazil's Starting Lineup for Match Against Morocco. Carlo Ancelotti is finalizing Brazil's preparations for their World Cup 2026 debut. The main intrigue: who will start in attack—Matheus Cunha, Igor Thiago, or Endrick? The coach's decision could impact the course of the tournament.
Carlo Ancelotti is finalizing the starting lineup for the Brazil national team ahead of their opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Morocco. The main uncertainty is the choice of center forward: Matheus Cunha, Igor Thiago, and Endrick are all contenders for the position. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha remain irreplaceable on the wings of the attack, and the central spot is still vacant.
The team's preparations are taking place in isolation at the Red Bull Performance Center base in New Jersey. This regime is reminiscent of the atmosphere surrounding the squad at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Ancelotti aims to minimize external pressure and focus on tactics ahead of the game at MetLife Stadium.
According to sources within the squad, the favorite for the starting forward role is Matheus Cunha of Manchester United. He stands out for his leadership and active pressing—key requirements for Ancelotti’s attacking players. Igor Thiago from Brentford is also being considered, especially after his effective substitute appearance against Egypt, where he added depth and sharpness in the box. However, against Morocco, the coaching staff is prioritizing defensive discipline and support on the left flank to strengthen Vinicius’ interplay with opposing defenders.
Brazil's expected starting formation is 1-4-2-3-1: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães; Luis Henrique, Raphinha, Vinicius Junior; Matheus Cunha.
As for Endrick, the Brazilian Football Confederation is counting on him to play the role of a joker — coming on as a substitute during matches or depending on the opponent. The federation emphasizes that they do not want to rush his development, despite his high potential. Depending on the situation, Endrick can play on the right wing, as a partner to Vinicius, or even as a second striker.
Lineup options featuring Endrick imply changes to the system: they may continue with the usual 4-2-3-1 with rotations in defense and midfield, or switch to a 4-4-2, where Endrick and Vinicius Junior could partner up in attack. This approach allows flexible responses to the course of the tournament and varying opponents.
Close attention to Brazil's preparations for the start of the 2026 World Cup is reminiscent of how unexpected debates and discussions arise in other teams ahead of major tournaments. For example, there was recently a controversy in Cordoba over the fate of the mascot 'Fadi,' which became a major talking point during the final stage of the election campaign — details of this story sparked widespread public response.
For the record: Brazil is the only national team to have participated in every final stage of the World Cup. The 2026 squad features several players from leading European clubs. Matches in the US traditionally attract strong interest from fans in Spain, where football remains one of the top sports. The match against Morocco will be Ancelotti's first test as head coach of the national team on the world stage.
