Seleção in chaos: inside Brazil’s urgent World Cup wake-up call | OneFootball

Danilo, Flamengo’s centre-back, has offered a candid evaluation of the Brazil national team’s current state, characterizing recent years as chaotic and calling for significant change ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Speaking in May to former striker Romário, Danilo did not mince words: “If you look at the Seleção today, it’s a mess.” He went on to describe a sense of disarray both on the pitch and behind the scenes, citing uncertainty around the management and leadership at the top of the Brazilian Football Confederation.

At the time of Danilo’s interview, the national team was in the midst of administrative upheaval. Ednaldo Rodrigues was still CBF president, but the federation was poised for change, a transition which has since seen both a new president and incoming coach. This turbulence left Danilo pessimistic about Brazil’s immediate prospects on the global stage, though he stressed that improvement was possible in the lead-up to the next World Cup. “From now until 2026, things can get a lot better. That depends on the players, on Ancelotti, and on our ability to shield ourselves from everything off the field—criticism, expectations—that can really damage us,” he argued.

Danilo emphasized the importance of mental strength, especially given the scrutiny faced by the national team. He called on players to tune out external noise and focus on their own performance. The defender also addressed the frequent debate among fans and pundits about winning while playing attractive football, making clear his own priorities: “People say, ‘Ah, Brazil won but played badly.’ My friend, we won. Of course, I’d like to play well too, no one wants to suffer. But if the choice is playing well and losing or playing less well but winning, I prefer to win. Sorry, that’s just how I am.”

Looking ahead to the next cycle, Danilo identified Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival as a potentially stabilizing force, noting that fans were energized by the prospect of new leadership. The hope is that Ancelotti can restore order and focus as Brazil recalibrate for the 2026 World Cup, but Danilo was clear: improvement will require work both on and off the pitch, with the squad and staff needing to unite and insulate themselves from the harsh glare of public opinion.

Danilo has recently been called up for Brazil’s matches against Ecuador and Paraguay in June, a nod to his continuing role as an on-field presence for the Seleção during this rebuilding period.

Source: Lance

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