Brazil’s shambolic World Cup: Where does Carlo Ancelotti go from here? | OneFootball

Brazil are out of the 2026 World Cup. And while that may surprise many, those close to the camp over the last two years will have probably anticipated a bleak ending this summer.

After their worst qualification campaign in 24 years combined with injuries to key players that would have started such as Estêvão, Eder Militão, Wesley and Rodrygo, Brazil were potentially set up to fail.

Spending big bucks (he earns a reported $12M a year) to bring in Carlo Ancelotti as their first foreign head coach received a mixed reaction. Now, after their round of 16 defeat against Norway, the voices of dissent have grown louder. The Italian is under serious pressure to fix this mess — arguably his most difficult job to date.

Questionable Selections

Ancelotti’s squad selection was questioned before the first kickoff, and has continued to be a hot topic of discussion after their earlier than anticipated exit.

Danilo (34), Alex Sandro (34), Casemiro (34) and Neymar (34) should not have been anywhere near the United States. Neither Danilo (4 starts, 5 appearances) nor Casemiro (5 starts) impressed. Both struggled to deal with the pace and power of Morocco, before they combined to make a costly mistake for Japan’s goal in the round of 32.

Yet Ancelotti ignored those errors and paid the ultimate price.

But the talk post match hasn’t just been about Danilo and Casemiro. Instead, the focus has been on their record goalscorer.

Questionable Substitutions

With the game scoreless in the 67th minute, Ancelotti made the decision to bring Neymar on as his no.9. t was a baffling, costly move at that stage in the game, when there were still three substitutes left. The Santos forward was clearly unfit, and unable to chase defenders down.

Norway couldn’t believe their luck. Their players were able to waltz through the middle with ease and pin Brazil further back. Vinícius Júnior and Endrick were forced wide and were effectively out of the game, while Neymar trotted around the pitch. Brazil were basically playing with 10 men for the final 30 minutes, before the inevitable happened.

Both goals came from the right hand side. Poor Endrick was stuck playing a role he isn’t used to, alongside a right-back that should have retired before this World Cup. Erling Haaland ate him up for lunch. Moments later, nobody in the defense (but Gabriel in particular) could close down on Erling Haaland, who fired a low rocket into the far corner without so much of a Brazilian shadow crossing his path.

And that was that. Brazil were heading home and missed out on a quarter-final match up against Thomas Tuchel’s England. Perhaps that was a blessing. England were magnificent against Mexico and Brazil could have whimpered out of the tournament and been taught a real lesson against the Three Lions.

What Now for Ancelotti?

So, injuries, poor squad selection and strange choices throughout the tournament. Where does that leave Ancelotti?It has been announced that he will keep his position (still making $12M), and the aim is to win the 2030 World Cup – 28 years after their last.

But this is now a squad that needs a complete overhaul. Ancelotti prefers experience, but the likes of Alisson, Neymar, Danilo, Casemiro and others won’t be there.  Which begs the question: why didn’t the Italian bring up-and-coming Brazilian talent to the World Cup to at least gain experience?Corinthians’ Breno Bidon and Chelsea’s Andrey Santos are a pair of central midfielders that will likely find their way into Ancelotti’s plans. Manchester City’s Vitor Reis should also come in as the defense looks to freshen up.

So there are options. But it’s going to take time for Brazil to re-build, and fans are furious it has got to this point.

It’s not quite all doom and gloom. Throw in Bournemouth’s Rayan, Real Madrid’s Endrick and Chelsea’s Estêvão, this is a front line that will only improve over the coming years and may well start the 2028 Copa America.

Ancelotti has some excuses, but he is also right to be questioned after an incredibly poor World Cup. The work towards 2028 and 2030 starts now – and there can be no more poor decisions if Brazil are to get back on top.

That, however, won’t be for quite some time and this round of 16 exit will leave scars that might never fade.