Brazil at World Cup 2026: Ancelotti’s Big Challenge
Brazil’s road to the 2026 World Cup was anything but smooth. According to The Guardian’s World Cup Experts’ Network, it was the country’s worst-ever qualifying campaign, with defeats against Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Most damaging of all was a historic home loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina — the first time Brazil had ever been beaten at home in World Cup qualifying.
After a 4-1 hammering in Buenos Aires in March 2025, head coach Dorival Júnior was shown the door, with fears briefly surfacing that the five-time world champions might not even qualify. As it turned out, South America’s generous format — six automatic spots for ten nations — spared Brazil that embarrassment.
The real turning point came when Carlo Ancelotti was appointed in May 2025. The Italian, who holds a record five Champions League titles as a club manager, acknowledged the significance of the role: