Carlo Ancelotti is about to do something no foreign coach has done for Brazil in over a century: lead the Seleção into a World Cup. As Brazil prepares to face Morocco, a panel of analysts including former Portuguese international Nuno Gomes has weighed in on whether Ancelotti’s decorated résumé translates to international tournament success.

Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion, has not lifted the trophy since 2002. That’s a 24-year drought for a nation that treats football the way some countries treat religion.

The Ancelotti experiment

Ancelotti was appointed Brazil’s head coach in May 2025, making him the first full-time foreign manager to lead the national team in over 100 years. The CBF extended his contract through 2030 after Brazil successfully qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

Approval ratings for Ancelotti sat at 41% approval versus 29% disapproval heading into mid-2026.

Nuno Gomes, alongside analysts Daniel Angulo, Ximena Cebreros, and Luis Baraldi, examined what Ancelotti brings to the table ahead of Brazil’s World Cup opener.

Squad construction and tactical identity

Ancelotti’s Brazil features Vinícius Jr. and Endrick among the major squad members, a combination of proven world-class ability and youthful explosiveness that mirrors the squad-building philosophy Ancelotti deployed at Real Madrid.

The Morocco match represents the first real test of whether Ancelotti’s club-level composure translates to the compressed, do-or-die format of a World Cup. Morocco, fresh off a stunning semifinal run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is not the kind of opponent that offers a gentle introduction.