TOKYO (BN24) — Carlo Ancelotti is no stranger to rewriting history, and now the Italian tactician is aiming to do it again, this time with Brazil on the world’s biggest football stage.
Ancelotti, who became Brazil’s first foreign-born coach in more than 60 years when he took charge in May, is seeking to lead the five-time world champions to an unprecedented triumph at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No team has ever won the tournament under a non-native coach, but Ancelotti insists there is room in the record books for a new chapter.
“My goal is to give my best for the Brazil national team, to try to get them to perform at their best and to win the World Cup,” Ancelotti said Monday ahead of Brazil’s friendly match against Japan in Tokyo. “Of course, no foreign-born coach has ever won the World Cup, but there is always a first time in life.”
The Selecão, still regarded as the spiritual home of the sport, had a turbulent road to World Cup qualification, finishing fifth in the South American standings. Yet Ancelotti has already sparked optimism, especially after Brazil’s emphatic 5-0 victory over South Korea in Seoul last week, a performance hailed by fans as a return to “jogo bonito,” the beautiful game that once defined Brazilian football.
That match saw 18-year-old rising star Estevão score twice, with Real Madrid duo Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo also finding the net. The result has reignited belief in a squad that had struggled to find stability since Tite’s resignation following the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal loss to Croatia. Ancelotti is the fourth coach to take the helm in the span of just over two years.
Despite the attacking flair on display, Ancelotti said his vision for Brazil is rooted in more than just aesthetics.
“Brazilian players have the quality to play beautiful football, but you have to think about what you mean by beautiful football,” he said. “It’s not just about individual brilliance; it’s also about teamwork, movement off the ball, and tactical awareness. That’s very important in football.”
Brazil continues its Asian tour without Neymar, the national team’s all-time top scorer, who remains sidelined until at least November due to a thigh injury. With the World Cup less than a year away, questions linger over whether the 33-year-old forward will return to full fitness in time to rejoin the squad.
Ancelotti, however, offered no doubt about Neymar’s potential role if healthy.
“If Neymar is in good condition, then of course he can fit into the national team,” he said. “If Neymar is fit, then he can play in any team in the world.”
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will mark the first edition of the expanded 48-team tournament. For Brazil and for Ancelotti, it represents both an opportunity for redemption and a chance to etch their names into history once again.
For now, Ancelotti remains focused on laying the groundwork and challenging the precedent that no foreign-born coach has ever lifted the World Cup trophy.
