Brazil vs – Brazil’s World Cup story carries a cruel statistic: they have not won the trophy since 2002 and could set a new unwanted record with six straight tournament exits if this summer doesn’t break the drought. Carlo Ancelotti begins his first campaign in charge wit
The feeling in Brazil’s camp is hard to measure until kickoff—because history doesn’t wait for momentum.
Brazil’s World Cup legacy already places them alone at the top of the all-time winners list with five titles. and lifting the trophy for a sixth time would cement the Selecao as the honorary guardians of the beautiful game. But anything else would sharpen the knife: Brazil would be on course for six consecutive editions of the tournament without success.
It has been 24 years since Cafu led the celebrations in Yokohama after guiding Brazil to a 2-0 win over Germany. Since then, the setbacks have come in different disguises—sometimes brutal, sometimes humiliating, always costly.
In 2006, Zinedine Zidane’s influence helped France dump Brazil out in the quarter-finals. Four years later in South Africa, Wesley Sneijder scored twice at the same stage to send Dunga’s men home. Then came 2014. the tournament that was supposed to finally click on home soil—until Germany obliterated the dream with a seven-goal win in the semi-finals.
After that, the pain kept finding new ways to break. Belgium were too strong in the last eight in 2018, while Croatia edged Brazil in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals in Qatar last time around.
Now Carlo Ancelotti arrives with the brief of securing a first World Cup victory for Brazil since 2002. and the start couldn’t be more revealing. Brazil’s campaign gets underway against Morocco in New Jersey this evening. Progression from Group C shouldn’t be a problem on paper. but Brazil are a team that “don’t half make life difficult for themselves.”.
Their route to the tournament underlined the gap between expectation and output. Six defeats from 18 qualifiers saw Brazil finish fifth in the CONMEBOL standings—enough only because a new-look 48-team World Cup reduced the consequences of that position. Even then, it was just barely.
In the past year, Brazil have suffered defeats to the same Bolivia side that Scotland skelped 4-0 last weekend. They also lost to Japan, who fought back from two goals down to record their first win over the South American heavyweights back in October.
A 1-1 draw with Tunisia at the tail end of 2025 only added to the feeling that this summer will demand more than belief—it will demand execution.
For Ancelotti, stability is the first task, but it arrives with limitations. He was tasked with the job after his arrival last June, and while he has been described as the man meant to steady the ship, the waiting remains: everyone is still looking for an upturn in results and performance.
Brazil have had wins over Senegal, Croatia, Panama and Egypt, providing some morale boost, yet defensively there are serious questions going into this tournament.
Injuries have already stripped away options. The withdrawals of Real Madrid star Eder Militao and Roma’s Wesley through injury have left Brazil badly exposed at right-back. Danilo—once of Man City and Juventus—is now 35 and plying his trade at Flamengo. Al-Ahly’s Roger Ibanez is serviceable, but only in that narrow sense.
The concern doesn’t fade at the other side. No fewer than seven players were deployed at left-back during qualifying. Alex Sandro, 35, and Douglas Costa, 32, are set to battle it out for a starting spot in North America.
The question hovering behind that selection is simple and sharp: would Andy Robertson or Kieran Tierney get a game in this side? The tournament’s first test against Morocco should provide at least some answers about how Brazil handle pace and pressure.
Ancelotti’s selection approach also carries its own tension: his preference for a 4-2-4 formation. The midfielder has a stabiliser in the squad—Ancelotti recalled veteran Casemiro to the team following an 18-month absence—but the manager may be asking too much of one player to do the heavy lifting.
The defensive fragility matters even more because Brazil’s identity has never been built around choosing between style and substance. Historically, they’ve had both. Right now, the problem is that it’s hard to make a case they have either at their best.
That contrast is the core challenge running through this tournament. Brazil’s attack is stacked with talent, and in that respect some things never change. When fit, 34-year-old attacker can be a difference-maker for Brazil in North America. In Gabriel Martinelli, Raphinha, Vinicius Jr, Matheus Cunha, Endrick and Igor Thiago, Ancelotti has options that can hurt any defense.
The selection of Neymar raised eyebrows, especially because he is already ruled out of the opening fixture. Even so, there’s no question he still has it in him to turn a game on its head, and for the neutral he remains box-office viewing.
The real issue is fitting it all in. What has made Ancelotti so successful throughout his career is the way he keeps players happy and pulling in the same direction. and big egos have rarely destabilised a dressing room under him. International football doesn’t offer the same luxury as club football. Brazil will play eight games at best this summer. and there’s no full league season to allow everyone time to find rhythm.
Even the striker question adds pressure. The lack of a top-class No 9 has been a worry for some time, and it’s still there. Igor Thiago’s breakthrough season at Brentford—22 goals—has propelled him to the forefront of the manager’s thoughts. Goals against Croatia and Panama earlier this year will have helped his case for a starting spot.
But for Brazil, Thiago isn’t expected to just be the finisher. His job is primarily to offer a platform as a focal point so the flair players can provide the finishing touches. The question becomes what happens if it doesn’t work. If it doesn’t, is there a reliable Plan B?
Brazil’s opener against Morocco also carries a wider pulse for fans watching other Group C storylines. Ben Gannon-Doak is mentioned as a threat for Scotland in a couple of weeks’ time. and the pace Morocco bring tonight could offer an insight into what Scotland fans might face then. At that stage. Scotland will be vying for top spot after taking maximum points from Haiti and Morocco. and there’s always hope—especially for a team that has to keep believing the next match will finally feel different.
One thing, though, is already clear. This isn’t simply an opening fixture for Brazil. It’s a hinge on which a 24-year wait hangs—and on which the difference between “almost” and “at last” will be decided.
Brazil Morocco World Cup Carlo Ancelotti Cafu Zinedine Zidane Wesley Sneijder Dunga Neymar Eder Militao Danilo Roger Ibanez Alex Sandro Douglas Costa Casemiro Igor Thiago Vinicius Jr Raphinha Endrick