Ancelotti Takes on Brazil's Biggest Challenge: Restoring World Cup Fear Factor

Carlo Ancelotti has taken over Brazil at a delicate moment, with the team opening its 2026 World Cup campaign in Group 3 against Morocco at 1:00 a.m. Israel time, between Saturday and Sunday. The match, in New Jersey, comes after an uneven preparation period and will be Brazil’s first game in the tournament cycle, against the 2022 World Cup fourth-place team.

The Brazilian federation pursued Ancelotti since the previous World Cup, but he stayed at Real Madrid until he felt he had finished his second spell there. The 67-year-old, who won the Champions League twice as a player and five times as a coach, agreed to lead Brazil only after deciding to leave Madrid. His contract was extended last month through the 2030 World Cup, signaling that Brazil wants long-term construction, not a quick fix.

The article portrays Ancelotti as a rare club legend who made the move from elite European club football to the international stage, unlike Zinedine Zidane, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Jupp Heynckes. Brazil believes his calm authority, flexibility and experience can stabilize a squad that has lacked confidence and tactical sharpness. The federation does not expect him to transform everything in 12 months, but to build a team that could enter future tournaments as a favorite.

The only clear selection issue raised is his decision to leave out Chelsea striker Joao Pedro, despite Brazil’s shortage of central forwards. Ancelotti said, “He probably deserved to be in the list, but unfortunately, with all due respect, we chose another player.” He also called up Neymar for public and sporting reasons. In the end, the larger task is not simply to win this World Cup, but to make the world fear Brazil again.