Brazil nearly didn't make this World Cup. Let that sink in for a moment. The five-time champions, the only nation to appear in every edition of the tournament, qualified fifth in South American qualifying — and in the old four-plus-one format, they wouldn't have made it directly at all. That's where the Selecao are heading into 2026.
Carlo Ancelotti has since taken the wheel, appointed in May 2025 after a drawn-out negotiation that lasted the better part of a year. He'll be the first foreign coach to manage Brazil at a World Cup. His record sits at 6 wins, 3 losses, 2 draws — modest, but the identity looks clearer. That matters when you're walking in after two sacked managers and an interim.
Who actually plays?
Vinicius Junior is still the name everyone's watching. The problem is he's never quite replicated his Real Madrid self in a yellow shirt, and this tournament arrives without his usual support network. Rodrygo and Estevao are both out injured, which strips the attack of two players Ancelotti considered undisputed starters. That leaves Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, and teenager Rayan competing for spots alongside Vinicius and Endrick in a 4-2-4 that can shift to a 4-3-3 depending on the opposition.
Neymar is in the squad. Whether he's fit enough to influence things is the question Brazil's fans have been debating for months. He's 34, perpetually injury-prone, and hasn't played consistently for years. His inclusion is more about what he represents than what he can reliably produce.
In midfield, Casemiro returns for his third World Cup, this time partnered with Bruno Guimaraes — Newcastle's best player and arguably Brazil's most reliable performer over the qualifying cycle. That double pivot is where Ancelotti's tactical trust is most visible.
The defence tells a mixed story. Gabriel Magalhaes is in superb form. Marquinhos brings experience. But Alisson arrives with fitness concerns and isn't fully trusted even at home. At right back, Wesley's pre-tournament injury against Egypt hands Danilo a starting spot he wouldn't otherwise have had. Left back Alex Sandro, fresh off winning the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo, is the frontrunner there.
Group C and what it means for Brazil's odds
Brazil landed in Group C alongside Morocco, Scotland, and debutants Haiti. Morocco are the only genuine test — African champions and a side that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2022. Scotland present a curiosity; the two sides shared a group back in 1998. Haiti are making their first-ever appearance at the tournament.
On paper, Brazil should advance comfortably. But this squad carries real psychological baggage — 2014's 7-1 humiliation on home soil, early exits in 2018 and 2022, and a qualifying campaign that had the entire country questioning the project. The fullback positions remain exposed and will be targeted by quality wingers. Brazil's title odds reflect a team with elite individual talent and genuine structural concerns.
- FIFA Ranking: 6th (April 2026)
- Coach: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), since May 2025
- World Cup titles: 5 (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
- All-time World Cup record: W76 L19 D19
- Key players: Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Raphinha, Casemiro (Manchester United), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle)
- Group C opponents: Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
The drought now stands at 24 years — the longest since the gap between 1970 and 1994. Ancelotti is a generational coach. Whether that's enough to fix what ails this particular generation of Brazilian players is the whole question of the tournament.
