Carlo Ancelotti’s era as Brazil head coach has officially begun, with all eyes on him to lead the nation’s project toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Neymar missing from the squad, the Italian manager conducted his first training session and offered clues about a potential starting lineup for the upcoming CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier against Ecuador.
Neymar was left out of Ancelotti’s first squad list, as the star forward continues to recover fitness from a thigh injury. In his opening press conference last Monday, Ancelotti addressed the roster decisions and spoke about Neymar’s absence:
“For this call-up, I tried to select players who are currently in good form. Neymar has just returned from an injury and has only just started playing again. Everyone knows he’s a very important player—he always has been and always will be. We are counting on him, obviously,” he said when asked about Neymar.
Ancelotti’s first session at the helm
Ancelotti led his first training session as Brazil manager on Tuesday at the Joaquim Grava training center in São Paulo, home of Corinthians. During the session, he organized a team that could reflect his preferred starting XI for Thursday’s match:
Alisson; Vanderson, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Andreas Pereira, Andrey Santos, Estevao; Vinicius Junior and Richarlison. One notable rotation saw Danilo replace Vanderson at right back during the session, indicating some flexibility. Ancelotti appeared focused on balancing veteran experience with emerging young talent.
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The most noticeable shift is Brazil’s shape, as Ancelotti introduced a 4-4-2 formation—similar to the setup he often used at Real Madrid. Meanwhile, winger Raphinha will miss Ancelotti’s debut due to suspension, reason why he’s not included in the team.
Ancelotti will make his official debut as Brazil manager on Thursday when the Seleção visit Ecuador in Guayaquil for a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier. The team will then return home to face Paraguay next Tuesday. In a nation eager for stability and silverware, Brazil is placing its trust in Ancelotti to guide a new generation—potentially toward Neymar’s final World Cup in 2026.
