For a nation so deeply embedded in the history of the World Cup, it’s remarkable to think Brazil have not won it for almost quarter of a century. Carlo Ancelotti and his team will begin their campaign here in broiling New Jersey tonight with the weight of history sitting heavy on their golden shoulders.Brazil and the World Cup. It’s hard to think of one without the other. But not since Ronaldo – the original one – struck twice to bury Germany in Japan in the 2002 final have the South Americans really come close to doing their reputation justice.They remain a hot ticket. Today’s Group C opener is almost sold out with seats at the MetLife Stadium for their meeting with Morocco available on resale sites for around the £2,000 mark yesterday. Whether they can live up the hype that always follows them to these tournaments remains to be seen.First there are the facts. Brazil’s qualification efforts were desperately mundane. They took the fifth of the six spots available to the CONMEBOL confederation, losing six of their 18 games - including to Paraguay and Bolivia - and finishing behind Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and Uruguay.Then there is the expectation. Even the hiring of the calmest man in football – Ancelotti took the job in May 2025 – has not managed to dampen down the squalls of contention and disagreement that regularly seem to batter the edges of the Brazilian game.The great Brazilian full back Cafu – a member of that 2002 winning team – said this week: ‘Ancelotti brings serenity and leadership. Brazil are on of the more unpredictable sides of the World Cup - they are in an identity crisis Neymar has been called up after two and a half years to give the Brazilian public what they have asked for