Carlo Ancelotti don say im ready for a ‘beautiful moment’ for im coaching career as im prepare to take charge of im first World Cup game. Ancelotti don win domestic titles for Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain for 20-year career wey include stops for Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
After stepping into international football with Brazil for May 2025, the 67-year-old Italian go dey on the touchline for im first World Cup game against Morocco for New Jersey on Saturday. ‘Na new experience for me,’ Ancelotti tell news conference on Friday. ‘Na something special. Obviously e carry plenty responsibility. Na honour to represent the country of football and the most decorated national team for the world. Na honour and responsibility. Na beautiful moment for me.’
Brazil don arrive North America looking for record-extending sixth World Cup victory. Dem no don lift the trophy since 2002 and don fail to pass quarterfinals for four of dem last five attempts. But Ancelotti say im squad fit match the best for the world. ‘Dis na team wey fit compete with anybody,’ the Italian say, wey reveal say im expect Neymar to return to training next week. ‘We fit face any team. We get technical quality and experience and we absolutely confident we fit face any team.’
‘We get good feeling about dis World Cup. We ready and prepared. For dis point no clear favourite for the World Cup. Several teams go get opportunity to compete all the way to the end.’
Much of the responsibility for Brazil success for the tournament go fall on players like VinÃcius Júnior and the Real Madrid winger back up Ancelotti claim say the team dey among those wey fit win everything. ‘We dey come to be the winners,’ VinÃcius say. ‘We dey at the same level as the other major teams. We get great players and we don better over the last few months.’
‘We dey here to try to change history and put Brazil back where e suppose never leave, wey be back at the top.’ The five-time champions go dey look to top Group C, wey also contain Haiti and Scotland. ‘The entire Brazilian nation get to dey on our side and we go do everything for our power to go back to the top,’ the 25-year-old add. ‘I no dey here to be the best player for the tournament, I dey here to help Brazil win.’
Last triumph na for 2002 but Italian head coach, without Neymar against Morocco, bring ‘joy and enthusiasm’. Na Marcio Santos wey best sum up the predicament Brazil players find demself for before the 1994 World Cup. ‘We no don win for 24 years. That one too long for the Brazilian people,’ the former defender say for the new Netflix documentary ‘USA 94: Brazil’s Return to Glory’.
Having suffer the ignominy of a first defeat for qualifying wey prompt the manager, Carlos Alberto Parreira, to offer to step down, the fabled Romário and Bebeto strike partnership inspire the Seleção to win a fourth World Cup the last time the tournament hold for American soil. Thirty-two years on, Brazil supporters go dey hope history dey about to repeat itself for Carlo Ancelotti side as dem prepare for the most awkward opening matches against Morocco on Saturday, wey become the first African country to reach the last four for 2022.
The World Cup most successful nation don make am pass quarter-final stage once since Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo seal a fifth title for 2002. Dat dis now the joint-longest Brazil don go without winning the World Cup no be the only parallel with 1994. A disastrous qualifying campaign mean dem finish a lowly fifth after six defeats – more than any of the other five South American teams wey make am to the World Cup – and many don write off dem chances.
Ancelotti don get mixed success since leaving Real Madrid last year to take im first steps for international management. Yet despite criticism of im decision to omit Chelsea João Pedro and recall 34-year-old Neymar for the first time since 2023, the Italian still get the tools at im disposal to become the third manager to win the World Cup and Champions League, after Marcello Lippi and Vicente del Bosque.
Neymar na the only surviving squad member from the 7-1 semi-final thrashing against Germany for 2014 – aka the Mineiraço – albeit im force to watch the nightmare unfold from the sidelines after dey injured against Colombia for the previous round. Since Ancelotti arrival, the environment don transform. ‘E carry strong presence and give us the tranquility of an environment focused on work, without controversy,’ the Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson say this week. ‘E be multi-champion. E don win everything for football and dey here with joy and enthusiasm.’
If anybody fit cope with that na Ancelotti. But im must find the right balance for attack to build on defence wey suppose be one of the strongest for the tournament. The partnership between the captain, Marquinhos, and Arsenal Gabriel Magalhães – wey dem immediately console by im Brazil teammate after missing the crucial penalty for the Champions League final a fortnight ago – na the foundation of that, even if the full-back positions be more of a concern.
A traditional strength – think Carlos Alberto for 1970, Branca and Jorginho for 1994 and Cafu and Roberto Carlos for 2002 – now rely on thirtysomethings Douglas Santos, Danilo and Alex Sandro. The calf injury Neymar sustain a couple of days after dey called up mean im go sit out the opening game, with the teenager Endrick vying with Brentford Igor Thiago to lead the line. VinÃcius Júnior and Raphinha provide the spark for attack, while a rejuvenated Casemiro go anchor a strong midfield also featuring Newcastle Bruno Guimarães.
‘Dis na the most important time for my life and my career,’ Vinicius say. ‘My physical and technical level na the best ever.’ Brazil don win dem group at every World Cup since 1978, when draws against Sweden and Austria mean dem finish second after scoring two goals for three matches. Dem miss out on the final after a controversial 0-0 draw for the second group stage against the eventual winners, Argentina.
Ancelotti no be usually known for im pragmatism but even a draw against Mohamed Ouahbi side no go be a disaster with Haiti and Scotland to come. The Italian insist na honour to ‘represent the most decorated national team for world’ and seem determine to ‘enjoy dis beautiful moment’ having serve as Arrigo Saachi assistant for when Italy lose on penalties to Brazil for the final. ‘We absolutely confident we fit face any team,’ Ancelotti say. ‘To win e really difficult to say. We fit compete and we ready to compete.’
The only match to feature two teams ranked inside FIFA top 10 certainly make the first game at the New York New Jersey Stadium – the 82,500-capacity venue for the final on 19 July – one of the standout picks of the group stage and plenty supporters from both countries dey for town. The New York Knicks go dey action at the same time as dem seek the NBA title for the first time since 1973 and a massive police operation wey dem plan for 12 months go dey place to prevent any problems.
Brazil no dey use to compete for attention at World Cups. But with the group winners on a potential collision course with England, if dem top Group L, for the quarter-finals dem get opportunity to show dem mean business against Morocco.
The last Brazilian captain to lift the World Cup, Cafú, talk with AS just minutes before flying to the United States for Brazil match against Morocco at MetLife Stadium for New York dis Saturday. The legendary right back – one of the best ever at im position – reflect on the state of Brazilian soccer and the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as head coach of the Seleção.
‘The jogo bonito no dey exist again. Today, wetin matter na the result. Ancelotti get strong European mentality; people get high expectations for im work, and dem hire am for exactly dat. E represent a new hope for Brazil to take a step forward,’ Cafú say.
Cafú also express excitement about attending the opening events of the 2026 World Cup. There, im reunite with Brazilian icons like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto, and Roberto Rivelino, a champion for Mexico 1970. ‘Rivelino na huge star and incredible figure for us. E win for 1970, and I just dey born. For Brazilians, the Estadio Azteca get special meaning,’ im say, referring to the stadium wey host Thursday opening match between Mexico and South Africa.
When dem ask about the current tournament, Cafú highlight the strength of several national teams and point to France as one of the top contenders. ‘France na one of the favourites. I also really like Portugal. Colombia, Ecuador, and Spain get great teams and fit be protagonists,’ im note.
Cafú also dey optimistic about Mexico chances after dem 2–0 win over South Africa. ‘Mexico dey improve. We don watch dem games and I think dem fit go far. Dem get great fan base, and playing at home always be big advantage,’ im conclude.
