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Carlo Ancelotti Faces His First Big and Urgent Decision With Brazil
The Italian coach has officially taken over the Brazil national team and now faces immediate pressure: submitting the preliminary squad list for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
First Challenge: Choosing the Right Names
Just days after being confirmed as head coach, Carlo Ancelotti already feels the weight of leading the Brazil national team. His first major task? Sending FIFA the preliminary list of players eligible to face Ecuador and Paraguay in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a deadline that expires this Sunday.
The CBF has placed full trust in Ancelotti to rebuild a team shaken by poor results and a lack of identity. This list is more than a formality—it’s the first step toward restoring confidence and structure. The final squad of 23 players will be selected from this list and announced in late May.
One of the biggest concerns surrounds the fitness of Neymar Jr., who remains sidelined due to injury. At the same time, Ancelotti will have to manage a locker room filled with uncertainty. Key figures such as Vinícius Jr., Casemiro, and Rodrygo are arriving with inconsistent form and off-field distractions from their club seasons.
Ancelotti, Brazil’s New Hope Amid Crisis
Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival signals a major turning point for Brazil, not only because he’s the first foreign coach to lead the team since 1965, but also due to the moment he joins—a team in crisis, desperate for direction and positive results.
His contract runs through the 2026 World Cup, and his salary could reach €15 million if he wins the title. The most decorated coach in Champions League history will make his debut with Brazil on June 5 in Guayaquil, followed by a home match against Paraguay in São Paulo, at the Corinthians stadium.
Ancelotti inherits a squad that has struggled in the qualifiers, with painful losses against Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay, and a shocking home draw with Venezuela. Currently sitting fourth in the standings, Brazil is in a qualifying spot, but far from convincing.
Now, Ancelotti’s challenge begins with one critical decision—his first squad selection. It’s a move that could define not just the start of his tenure, but the trajectory of a team that hasn’t lifted the World Cup since 2002.
