The long pursuit by the Brazilian Football Confederation has finally paid off: Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of Brazil’s national team starting in June. The official announcement came just a day after Real Madrid’s 4-3 loss to Barcelona, a result that virtually ended their La Liga hopes. The 65-year-old from Reggiolo will lead the Seleção through the 2026 World Cup, to be held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
“The most decorated coach in football history will now guide the most successful national team ever,” read the CBF’s statement. Ancelotti is set to make his debut during the next international break, with Brazil facing Ecuador on June 5 in Guayaquil and Paraguay five days later in São Paulo — two pivotal fixtures in the World Cup qualifying campaign. Brazil, currently third with 21 points, shares the position with Uruguay and Paraguay, just one point ahead of Colombia. Their last match, a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina, led to the dismissal of Dorival Junior.
CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues hailed Ancelotti’s arrival as a historic moment: “Bringing Carlo to Brazil is more than a tactical decision — it’s a message to the world. He is the greatest coach of our time, and together we aim to restore Brazil to the top of world football.”
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Ancelotti inherits a team under pressure. Brazil hasn't won the World Cup since 2002 and has often fallen short on the big stage, with a painful 7-1 loss to Germany in 2014 and a string of quarterfinal exits. The 2019 Copa América remains their only major trophy in recent years.
While Brazil had courted Ancelotti as early as late 2023, he chose to extend his stay with Real Madrid. But the winds in Madrid shifted: an early Champions League exit and defeat in the Copa del Rey final reopened the door, and this time Ancelotti accepted the call.
He will officially begin his role on May 26, the day after La Liga concludes. Notably, he will take the reins without his son and assistant, Davide Ancelotti, who is reportedly close to joining Como as head coach. Cesc Fabregas is expected to leave Como to join Bayer Leverkusen, replacing Xabi Alonso — who is tipped to succeed Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
