Carlo Ancelotti has made a slight change to the way Brazil play and it could be the key in getting them a deep World Cup run.
After just over a year in charge, the Italian still hasn’t impressed the Brazilian people as they expected. In 12 games, he has collected seven wins, two draws and three losses.
Still, Carleto has the Selecao on a three-match win streak heading into the tournament. And people can have their own opinions on how Ancelotti has fared since taking over. But the fact of the matter is that, at least, his intentions are clear.
Why could Carlo Ancelotti’s new tactics be the difference for Brazil in the 2026 World Cup?
Previous managers
Brazil had been a very patient side ever since Tite started his tenure after the 2016 Copa America disaster. They very much looked like most of the dominant European clubs, stretching a five-man line in attack, inverted full-backs, passing it around waiting for the openings while also protecting themselves.
Dorival Junior and especially Fernando Diniz also shared a dominant approach, but with more mobility and a lesser need to keep a structure together at all times.
Ancelotti is also in this same line of strategy, but has shown a different side lately.
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Speed, fast pace and counter attacks
Brazil have looked faster and more direct since the turn of the year – both in and out of possession.
In the four friendlies the Selecao have played in 2026, they averaged more direct attacks and more fast breaks, as well as fewer build-up attacks and less possession than in the previous eight games under the 67-year-old.
| Brazil stats | Last 4 games | Previous 8 games |
|---|---|---|
| Direct attacks | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Fast breaks | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| Build-up attacks | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Possession | 49.3% | 61.1% |
| High turnovers | 10.8 | 7.0 |
| Recoveries in the final third | 6.0 | 4.8 |
And that change has come against not so dominant national teams. The first one of the lot was against France, a strong candidate for the World Cup title, but that has a famously pragmatic manager in Didier Deschamps.
The biggest surprises were to see Brazil finish the first half of a friendly against Panama with an even share of possession for both sides. And it wasn’t due to the score, seeing as it was tied for longer (27 minutes) than they were ahead (23 minutes).
Against Egypt, they gladly gave up on keeping the ball after going 2-1 up. The Selecao dominated the first half but finished the second period with just 45% possession, looking for Endrick, Raphinha, Luiz Henrique and Gabriel Martinelli on the run.
Tactical fit
The 67-year-old has doubled down on his 4-4-2 system (4-2-2-2 and 4-2-4 also apply) in order to accomodate Vinicius Junior in the front line out of possession.
He is a defensive liability anywhere on the pitch, so it’s better to not have him lose attacking wing-backs and instead press centre-backs alongside Matheus Cunha or Igor Thiago.
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This also allows him to spend time on the left wing with the ball, but also perform runs in behind. The combination with Cunha works in particular, since the Manchester United forward likes to drop deep and has a knack for finding through balls.
It’s actually a smart strategy to get the best out of his most decisive players. Vinicius has lightning-quick speed to get in behind, Raphinha is also very fast with a great sense of positioning and not as much as a ball-carrier, who looks to dissect the opposing defence looking.
Midfielders are also suited for an aggressive kind of game, while also not being the most refined footballers. Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes could be great for stepping up the pressure and trying to win the ball back close to goal.
Lucas Paqueta’s presence in the Estevao position could also add more phisicality and energy to bother opponents higher up the pitch.
It would leave them exposed at the back — as it did in friendlies against lesser opponents — but football is nothing but a short blanket anyway.
Psychological effect
A more reactive approach would also take a bit of the creative burden off Brazil’s shoulders. They have lacked a protagonist since Neymar’s injury in 2023 and nobody else seems to be able to lead the country as well as the Santos star. Neymar himself is far away from his best, in fact, and probably way past it at this point.
Brazil will always go into World Cups as one of the favourites mainly due to their history in the competition. Still, this one feels like the worst iteration of the Selecao of the century – but all the other national teams don’t look as dominant as they once were.
The one exception could be their main rivals Argentina, but even they depend highly on an ageing legend in Lionel Messi.
Maybe a more ‘underdog’ squad – or at least less of a favourite -, combined with a fresh, more reactive approach, is all they need in order to truly contend and make it past the quarter finals for the first time since 2014.
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