Carlo Ancelotti, the first foreign manager ever to lead Brazil’s national football team, isn’t exactly sweating his World Cup debut. In a pre-match press conference ahead of Brazil’s opener against Morocco on June 13 at MetLife Stadium, the Italian coach declared that Brazil “has the quality and experience” and enters the tournament “with full confidence, knowing it can compete with any opponent.”
A squad worth nearly a billion euros, minus two key pieces
Brazil’s roster reads like a fantasy football cheat code. According to Transfermarkt, the squad is valued at approximately €928.20 million, with the attacking unit alone accounting for roughly €519 million of that figure.
Stars like Vinicius Junior and Raphinha anchor a team that, on paper, has few equals. But the opener comes with complications: Neymar and Wesley have both been ruled out for the Morocco match, trimming some firepower from what should be a relentless front line.
Ancelotti took the Brazil job in May 2025 after departing Real Madrid. For Brazil, the stakes are arguably even higher. The Selecao haven’t lifted the trophy since 2002, a 24-year drought that feels particularly painful for a nation with five World Cup titles.
