Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Carlo Ancelotti was entering uncharted territory.
Despite previously working with 43 Brazilian players in his coaching career, the Italian manager has been to the South American country once before – returning on a scouting mission as Juventus boss in the early 2000s.
So, after much back and forth, when he reached a deal in May 2025 to lead Brazil at the World Cup as their first foreign coach, he knew he had to hit the ground running.
And so he did.
In one of his initial meetings in Rio de Janeiro, Ancelotti noticed that many local CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) staff were trying to speak Spanish and even Italian with him.
“No, no,” he responded with a smile on his face.
“I have to try to speak Portuguese here.”
The 66-year-old was aware that he had to do so if he was to win over a fanbase that takes great pride in the Selecao and has always considered itself self-sufficient in football.
Such was his focus that he hired a Portuguese teacher and committed to four lessons a week.
“I was surprised by his commitment,” Roberto Piantino, who is working with him on his Portuguese, told BBC Sport.
“I remember once we finished a lesson on a Friday and, as usual, I asked her when she wanted to do the next one. She said: ‘Tomorrow.’ But that day was Saturday. I said: ‘Sure, no problem.’ That means 9am in Vancouver (where Anchelti lives with his wife).
“It happened more than once. It showed me how serious he really was about learning.”
A 6-2 win over Panama in their last match before the start of the World Cup on Sunday was encouraging.
Bournemouth’s Ryan scored his first goal for his country, Brentford’s Igor Thiago was on target, while Vinicius Junior, Casemiro and Lucas Paqueta and Danilo also hit the net.
The size of the challenge ahead this summer – Portugal included – though Ancelotti will need every tool at his disposal: to prevent Brazil from setting an unwanted record.
The five-time champions last won the World Cup in 2002 and have never gone six editions without lifting the trophy.
But there is a strong case that the former Real Madrid and Chelsea coach is the right man for the job.
Former international Walter Casagrande, now a respected football pundit, argued, “What Brazil needed most was a manager bigger than the players.”
Ancelotti ticks that box: a record five Champions League titles in all five of Europe’s major leagues and the trophy carries real weight, even with Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Rafinha and co in the dressing room.
