Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti is the head coach of Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first foreign manager to lead the Seleção at a World Cup since the early days of the tournament. Born in Reggiolo, Emilia-Romagna on 10 June 1959, Ancelotti is widely considered the most decorated club coach of his generation, with a record five UEFA Champions League titles to his name.

A midfielder for Roma and AC Milan as a player and a Euro 1988 semi-finalist with Italy, his coaching career started in Parma in 1996. From there he built an unrivalled CV: league titles in Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain, plus Champions League wins with Milan (2003, 2007) and Real Madrid (2014, 2022, 2024). His calm man-management is the through-line that has worked with Maldini, Pirlo, Drogba, Ibrahimović, Ronaldo and Vinícius Jr.

The CBF approached him while he was still at Real Madrid, eventually announcing his appointment in May 2025 after his Madrid tenure ended. He inherits a Brazil rebuilding around a new generation — Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, Endrick, Raphinha — and an unrelenting national expectation: end the wait for a sixth World Cup.

Brazil are in Group C with Morocco, Scotland and Haiti, opening at MetLife Stadium on 13 June. Ancelotti's blend of European tactical detail and Brazilian flair is the experiment FIFA's biggest fanbase has been waiting for.