Brazil’s national team head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, says he is determined to make history by leading the Selecão to World Cup glory, a feat never before achieved by a foreign-born manager.
The Italian tactician, appointed in May as Brazil’s first overseas coach in six decades, has already guided the five-time champions to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking ahead of Brazil’s friendly against Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday, following a resounding 5–0 win over South Korea last week, Ancelotti said he is motivated by the chance to achieve something unprecedented.
“My goal is to give my best for the Brazil national team, to help them perform at their peak and win the World Cup,” he said. “No foreign-born coach has ever done it, but there’s always a first time.”
Brazil’s qualification campaign was far from smooth, as they finished fifth in the South American standings. Ancelotti is their fourth manager since Tite’s resignation after the 2022 World Cup quarter-final loss to Croatia.
Their recent performances, however, have reignited hope among fans, especially after the stylish victory over South Korea, widely praised as a return to Brazil’s trademark “jogo bonito” (beautiful football). Eighteen-year-old prodigy Estevão shone with a brace, while Real Madrid stars Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. also found the net.
Still, Ancelotti emphasized that his side’s success depends on more than flair.
“Brazilian players have the skill to play beautiful football, but beauty also means intelligence, teamwork, and movement off the ball,” he explained.
Brazil will be without their talisman Neymar, 33, who remains sidelined with a thigh injury until at least November. The forward’s race to regain fitness in time for the World Cup remains uncertain, though Ancelotti reaffirmed his confidence in the star’s abilities.
“If Neymar is fit, he can play in any team in the world,” the coach added.
Under Ancelotti’s leadership, Brazil have kept four clean sheets in five games, a sharp contrast to their earlier defensive lapses. Midfielder Bruno Guimarães credited the coach’s Italian discipline for the improvement.
“He’s Italian, so he likes solid defending,” Guimarães said. “At the World Cup, the teams that don’t concede goals usually win.”
Meanwhile, Japan, the first nation to qualify for next year’s tournament, will host Brazil without key players Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo. Their coach, Hajime Moriyasu, believes a win against the South American giants would boost his team’s confidence.
“We want to challenge ourselves, grow as a team, and show that we can compete with the best,” Moriyasu said.
Both sides will see Tuesday’s encounter as an important test ahead of the global showpiece, but for Ancelotti, it’s another step on his quest to make World Cup history with Brazil.
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