Brazil’s 2025 can be split into two completely different chapters, and both are defined by one name: Carlo Ancelotti. Before the Italian coach arrived, the Seleção was stuck in a dark period of poor results, off-pitch turmoil and embarrassing defeats. Years of constant managerial changes and CBF instability left the national team without identity or direction, making the road to the 2026 World Cup look bleak.
Everything shifted once Ancelotti — known in Brazil as Carleto — took charge. He didn’t turn Brazil into a flawless winning machine, but he restored confidence, structure and a clear tactical plan.
After the final fixtures of the year, against Senegal and Tunisia, Brazil finally looks capable of competing at a high level again ahead of the United States–Mexico–Canada World Cup.
Heavy defeat to Argentina
Before Ancelotti’s debut, Brazil played two World Cup Qualifiers in March 2025 under Dorival Júnior, who inherited a disorganised squad after months of political crisis inside the CBF.
Brazil beat Colombia 2–1 in the first match, showing early signs of improvement but still suffering from poor compactness, low intensity and creative issues.
Then came the breaking point: a 4–1 defeat to Argentina that exposed emotional fragility, repetitive mistakes and a clear lack of competitiveness. It was the symbol of a team adrift. And made the need for a rebuild undeniable.
Ancelotti arrives and fixes the defence
Ancelotti’s Brazil began with a defensively solid but creatively limited 0–0 draw against Ecuador. The team then beat Paraguay 1–0 thanks to Vinicius Junior, securing early qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Confidence grew in a dominant 3–0 win over Chile, with strong performances from substitutes Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Guimarães.
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But inconsistencies followed. A loss to Bolivia at altitude exposed attacking weaknesses and Brazil then blew a 2–0 lead against Japan, losing due to individual errors and tactical lapses, memories of previous World Cup failures.
The response was emphatic: a 5–0 win over South Korea combining high pressing, attacking variety and defensive control.
A standout performance against Senegal
In the final matches of the year, Ancelotti’s impact became even clearer. Brazil defeated Senegal 2–0 in one of its most complete performances in years.
Context matters: the same Senegal had beaten Brazil 4–2 less than two years earlier during the post-2022 collapse. Against an opponent unbeaten in 26 matches, the Seleção dominated physically, technically and tactically, with relentless intensity on and off the ball.
The friendly in London also showed that Carleto has a core built around four players he knows well from his Real Madrid days: Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Casemiro and Militão — along with many others who play in the Premier League.
Estêvão shines under Ancelotti
The London friendly also highlighted a core group Ancelotti trusts from his Real Madrid days: Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Militão and Casemiro.
Against Tunisia, the coach rotated heavily — especially in defence — and Brazil came from behind to draw thanks to Estêvão. The Chelsea wonderkid is the top scorer of the Ancelotti era with five goals in five matches, making him a near-certainty for the World Cup squad.
41 players tested and a clear plan for 2026
Ancelotti has called up 48 players across eight matches, using 41 of them. Friendly matches against Asian (South Korea, Japan) and African (Senegal, Tunisia) opponents were essential for building depth and identifying key pieces.
Brazil will face France and Croatia in the United States next March: the final :tests before the official World Cup squad announcement.
What once seemed impossible now feels within reach: with Ancelotti, Brazil is dreaming of the sixth World Cup again.
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