Carlo Ancelotti, the most decorated club manager in Champions League history, now faces arguably the hardest job in football: ending Brazil’s longest World Cup drought in modern history.
Appointed in May 2025 as the first foreign coach ever to lead the Seleção, the Italian tactician has had just over a year to reshape a squad that last lifted the World Cup trophy in 2002.
The selection headaches
The inclusion of Neymar has been a lightning rod for controversy. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star carries immense name recognition but also carries questions about fitness, form, and whether nostalgia should earn a roster spot at a World Cup.
In press conferences held in early June 2026, Ancelotti addressed player expectations and selection decisions head-on.
