Boluwatife Kehinde
Carlo Ancelotti is no stranger to making history, but his latest challenge could see him break new ground leading Brazil to World Cup glory as their first foreign-born coach in over 60 years.
The Italian tactician officially took charge of the five-time world champions in May, steering them through the final stages of a rocky qualification campaign. Brazil ultimately secured their spot for next summer’s tournament in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, but only after finishing fifth in the South American standings.
Now, Ancelotti is focused on a bigger goal: rewriting the history books by becoming the first non-native coach to win the FIFA World Cup.
“No foreign-born coach has ever won the World Cup,” Ancelotti acknowledged ahead of Brazil’s friendly clash with Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday. “But there’s always a first time.”
Brazil will enter that match full of confidence, having dismantled South Korea 5-0 in Seoul last week. Young sensation Estevao scored twice, while Real Madrid stars Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. were also on target — prompting talk of a return to Brazil’s famed “jogo bonito.”
But Ancelotti cautioned against oversimplifying Brazil’s style.
“Beautiful football isn’t just about flair. It’s about intelligence, movement, teamwork — and Brazil has all of that,” he said.
The team’s defensive record under Ancelotti has also improved, with four clean sheets in five matches — a stark contrast to their previous inconsistency at the back. Midfielder Bruno Guimaraes credited the Italian’s defensive mindset: “He’s Italian, so of course he wants us to defend well. And at the World Cup, clean sheets are key.”
Star forward Neymar remains sidelined with a thigh injury, casting doubt over his World Cup inclusion. But Ancelotti made it clear: “If Neymar is fit, he can play in any team in the world.”
Their next opponents, Japan, were the first team to qualify from Asia but have never beaten Brazil in 13 meetings. Despite injuries to key players like Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo, coach Hajime Moriyasu sees the match as a valuable test.
“Playing Brazil is always special. It’s a chance to grow, learn, and push our limits,” Moriyasu said.
