Brazil’s hopes of ending their long wait for a sixth FIFA World Cup came to another painful conclusion at the 2026 tournament as a last-16 defeat to Norway brought Carlo Ancelotti’s first major tournament in charge to an abrupt end.
The defeat means that when the next World Cup arrives in 2030, Brazil will have gone 28 years without lifting football’s greatest prize. Since the 2002 World Cup, the Seleção have consistently entered tournaments carrying the weight of expectation but have repeatedly fallen short. It is now officially the longest World Cup drought in the history of the most successful nation in international football.
This latest exit was not the result of one poor performance. Instead, it was the culmination of issues that had been evident throughout the tournament and raised serious questions about both the current squad and whether Ancelotti is the right man to oversee what increasingly looks like a necessary rebuild.
Brazil never truly convinced in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with prediction apps and Irish betting sites reflecting these doubts. They opened their campaign with an unconvincing 2-2 draw against Morocco before recording comfortable 3-0 victories over Haiti and Scotland. Those results eased some of the pressure, but neither performance suggested Brazil had found the consistency expected of genuine World Cup favourites.
They eventually overcame Japan in the closing stages of their Round of 32 tie, yet their limitations became impossible to ignore when they came up against Norway. Brazil lacked control for long periods, while Norway gradually grew into the game before taking advantage of the spaces that continued to appear.
Much of Brazil’s problems stemmed from the middle of the pitch. Ancelotti’s decision to recall Casemiro became one of the defining talking points of the tournament. The experienced midfielder had fallen out of the national team picture before Ancelotti’s arrival, making his return entirely the manager’s decision.
At his peak, Casemiro was one of the world’s finest defensive midfielders, but at this stage of his career he needs energy and athleticism around him to perform at his best. Instead, he often found himself alongside Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá, two technically gifted footballers whose strengths lie in controlling possession and creating chances rather than covering huge areas of the pitch. The balance simply was not there. Brazil lacked intensity in midfield and repeatedly looked vulnerable whenever opponents transitioned quickly.
Ancelotti’s other major selection decision proved even more controversial. The recall of Neymar surprised many given his physical condition and lack of convincing performances at club level.
Brazilian football expert Tim Vickery summed up the feeling when speaking to the BBC.
“And then there is Neymar. This one is all on the coach. True, the context was not easy. A star-struck public was howling for his inclusion, blind to the weekly evidence that he was nowhere near the player he used to be.”
Vickery pointed out that Ancelotti had previously insisted players would only be selected on merit and that injured players would not be considered, only to abandon those principles for Neymar. His criticism became even sharper as he explained the tactical consequences of the decision.
“Without the mobility to work back, Neymar had to be used at centre-forward, pushing both Vinicius Jr and Endrick out wide and deeper, further away from the goal, exactly where they should not have been.”
That tactical reshuffle disrupted Brazil’s attack rather than improving it. Vinícius Júnior and Endrick were moved away from the positions where they are most dangerous, while Brazil lost defensive structure as the game became increasingly open. Norway were able to provide better service into Erling Haaland, and a player of his quality required little invitation. Neymar eventually converted a penalty, but it was nothing more than a consolation in a defeat that immediately sparked calls for a serious inquest into the direction of the national team.
When Ancelotti accepted the Brazil job, it was one of the most significant appointments in the country’s football history. His record at club level made him an obvious candidate on paper, but the decision to appoint a foreign coach was never universally accepted in a nation that has enjoyed more World Cup success than any other.
Now those doubts have only grown stronger. This tournament has exposed flaws in squad building, tactical balance and selection. More importantly, it has highlighted that Brazil are no longer simply searching for a coach capable of winning the next tournament. They are searching for someone capable of rebuilding one of football’s most famous national teams.
That rebuild cannot wait. Brazil still possess exceptional attacking talent, but they must become younger, more athletic and better balanced if they are to compete with the very best over the next four years. Difficult decisions will have to be made, particularly regarding experienced players whose reputations no longer match their influence on the pitch.
There is also a wider question of identity. For generations, Brazil combined technical brilliance with relentless work ethic, defensive organisation and an unwavering belief in their own style of football. Flair was complemented by discipline rather than replacing it. Somewhere along the way that balance has been lost.
Whether Ancelotti is the man to restore it is becoming an increasingly valid question. If the Brazilian Football Confederation decide to make another change, there is no obvious successor. Filipe Luís has emerged as one of the brightest young Brazilian coaches after enjoying considerable success in domestic football, but his recent commitment to AS Monaco, for the 2026/27 season and beyond, means that option appears to be off the table for the foreseeable future.
That leaves Brazil facing an uncertain future. They have world-class talent, enormous expectation and four years to rebuild before the next World Cup. Whether Carlo Ancelotti remains at the helm or the Brazilian Football Confederation decide another voice is needed, one thing is beyond doubt. Brazil must rediscover the identity that made them the standard by which every other international team was measured.
Only then can they realistically hope to end what will be a 28-year wait for a sixth World Cup when the tournament returns in 2030. The rebuilding process starts now. Who leads it remains to be seen.