EAST RUTHERFORD, U.S. – Ahead of Brazil’s opening Group C match against Morocco this Saturday in New Jersey, iconic Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti has expressed firm belief that his five-time World Cup-winning squad has what it takes to outcompete the world’s best national teams and bring an end to the nation’s 24-year wait for a new global football title.
At 67 years old, Ancelotti boasts one of the most decorated resumes in club football management, having lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy five times across his career. This tournament, however, marks his first ever appearance as a head coach at the men’s World Cup, taking the reins of a Brazilian side that has not claimed the sport’s biggest prize since their 2002 victory.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the high-stakes opener, Ancelotti framed the opportunity as a one-of-a-kind milestone in his decades-long career. “It’s a new experience, it’s a new responsibility to represent the country of football,” he said. “At the end of the day, this role boils down to two words: responsibility and honour. This is a unique, incredibly beautiful moment in my career.”
The veteran manager made clear that his squad enters the tournament with quiet confidence, backed by a healthy mix of top-tier talent and proven veteran leadership. “We have a team that can compete with every team in the world, we’re convinced of that. It’s a team with quality and experience, and with absolute confidence that it can compete with anyone,” Ancelotti added.
Looking ahead to the broader tournament landscape, Ancelotti predicted that this 2024 World Cup will be one of the most evenly matched competitions in recent memory, noting that his side has put in the work needed to hit the ground running against Morocco. Brazil’s Group C also includes Scotland and Haiti, two sides the manager did not dismiss as lower-tier competition.
The path to the World Cup has not been smooth for Brazil, however. The team’s qualifying campaign was far from solid, dropping six of their 18 matches to finish fifth in the CONMEBOL standings – a result that would have sent them to intercontinental play-offs under previous qualifying formats. The squad has also faced significant roster setbacks heading into the tournament: key forwards Rodrygo and Estevao were forced to withdraw due to injury, and star veteran Neymar will miss Saturday’s opening clash.
Neymar, 34, has not featured for the Brazilian national side since 2023 after picking up a right calf injury in mid-May. Ancelotti confirmed that the star is on track to return to team training as early as next week, and emphasized that Neymar remains a critical part of the squad’s plans even as he recovers.
“Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible,” the coach said. “We called him up not only for his football ability, which is indisputable, but also for the experience and example he can give to the younger players in the group.”