The first foreign coach in Brazil s history, can Ancelotti save Samba s Legion?

The Brazilian Football Association officially confirmed that 65-year-old coach Ancelotti officially served as the head coach of the Brazilian national team, and he will lead five-star Brazil to the 2026 World Cup. Since then, the Italian coach has become the first foreign coach in the history of the Brazilian national team.

Ancelotti's coaching resume is legendary. This successful experience in top clubs has brought the Brazilian team the much-needed tactical modernity and competition resistance. Ancelotti's familiarity with Brazilian players will help this coaching. The growth trajectory of Real Madrid players such as Vinicius, Rodrigo, and Militon has proven their ability to train young geniuses. This tacit understanding between players and coaches may become the basis for tactical execution. At the tactical level, Ancelotti's flexibility and creativity are a highlight. Its ability to teach students according to their aptitude may solve the stubborn problem of Brazil's long-term reliance on personal breakthroughs and lack of system support. In addition, the progress of Premier League players in Brazil in physical confrontation and tactical discipline in recent years coincides with An Shuai's style of integrating European tactics, and is expected to form a more balanced offensive and defensive system.

However, the challenges facing Ancelotti are equally severe. First of all, there are essential differences in the management model between the national team and the club. Clubs can strengthen their shortcomings through the transfer market, while the national team must build a system based on existing players. Although Brazil has a large number of stars, the problem of lack of top organizers in the midfield and backcourt has long existed, and An Shuai needs to find a solution in the short term. Secondly, Brazilian football's "samba complex" may become a double-edged sword. How can fans and the media’s persistence in gorgeous offenses be reconciled with Ancelotti’s pragmatic and balanced tactical philosophy? If the record fluctuates, foreign identity may intensify public opinion pressure.

Historical burden cannot be ignored. Since winning the World Cup in 2002, Brazil has failed to enter the finals for six consecutive games. The 2022 Qatar World Cup ended in the quarterfinals and exposed chronic diseases such as weak on-the-spot adjustments and imbalance in key battles. Ancelotti needs to rebuild the team's confidence before the 2026 World Cup, and the World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay on June 6, 2025 may become the first major test - Brazil is currently ranked fourth in South America, and even lags behind Ecuador in points. If the start is unfavorable, a crisis of trust may break out early.

Judging from the timing, Ancelotti's takeover coincides with the transition period of Brazilian football. The Brazilian Football Association's turn to a foreign coach is not only a helpless move, but also an opportunity to break the fixed mindset. The 2026 US-Mexico World Cup has expanded to 48 teams, and the intensity of competition in the group stage has decreased, providing Brazil with more room for running-in.

However, potential risks also exist. Ancelotti's resume gap in never coaching the national team is a big concern. Club competitions can rely on long-term training to refine tactics, but the national team only gathers several times a year, so how to quickly establish a tacit understanding is a problem.

If Ancelotti can replicate his success as a "dressing room politician" in Real Madrid, bring big-name stars into a whole, and with the full support of the Brazilian Football Association, the 2026 World Cup may become a stage for Samba Legion to reappear. However, the world of football has never been inevitable. At this moment, the gears of details have begun to rotate. Only time can verify whether this football experiment spans the Apennines and Amazon can bear the fruit of the golden cup.