Carlo Ancelotti will be the new coach of Brazil starting May 26. The announcement was made by the CBF, the Brazilian Football Federation, after a few weeks of increasingly insistent rumors. The Italian coach, tied to a contract with Real Madrid until June 30, 2026, should therefore leave the blancos after four years at the end of the Liga (which will end on Sunday 25, now destined for Barcelona after yesterday's 4-3 in the Clásico ) with thirteen months before the expiry of his contract, without leading the team in the Club World Cup in the United States (where his replacement, Xabi Alonso, could already be there).
"The strongest national team in the history of football will now be led by the most successful coach in the world," the CBF announced . "Carlo Ancelotti, synonymous with historic feats, was announced this Monday by the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, as the new coach of the Brazilian national team. He will lead Brazil to the 2026 World Cup and will coach the team in the next two qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay, next month."
He could have become Brazil's coach as early as 2023, when he was one step away . Then the about-face and the decision to sign the renewal with Real Madrid. "Bringing Carlo Ancelotti to lead Brazil is more than a strategic move," says Rodrigues. " It is a statement to the world that we are determined to regain the top spot on the podium . He is the greatest coach in history and now he leads the strongest national team on the planet. Together, we will write new glorious chapters for Brazilian football."
Ancelotti will become the first Italian coach to sit on the bench of the Seleção and, overall, the third foreigner after the Uruguayan Ramón Platero (in 1925) and the Portuguese Joreca (in 1944). The debut will be at home to Ecuador on the Italian night between 5 and 6 June, in the qualifiers for next year's World Cup . Where Brazil is fourth with 21 points with four days to go, +6 on the seventh that is playing the play-off.
(Unioneonline/r.sp.)
