Carlo Ancelotti has made a quick start in Brazil, and the first part of it has been cultural rather than tactical. He agreed to lead Brazil in May 2025 as their first ever foreign coach at a World Cup, hired a Portuguese teacher and committed to four lessons a week. The early signs have been strong enough to soften the mood around him, even before the football question gets properly answered.
How Ancelotti has settled in Brazil
The clearest sign of that effort came in his own words. “I'm the one who has to make the effort to speak Portuguese here,” Ancelotti said.
That has mattered in a country that can be suspicious of an outsider in the dugout, especially one taking charge ahead of a World Cup. Roberto Piantino, his Portuguese teacher, said he was struck by how serious Ancelotti was about learning the language. The teacher recalled being asked for another lesson on a Saturday, which meant 9am in Vancouver, where Ancelotti lives with his wife.
The same pattern has shown up around the rest of the set-up. The contract renewal was delayed by about a month so three CBF staff members could also be extended until 2030. That kind of detail usually sits in the background, but it tells you how much work has gone into keeping the whole operation steady.
The public response has been encouraging. A Quaest survey found 41% approve of his work, compared with 29% who disapprove. He has six wins, two draws and three defeats in his first 11 matches, which is a decent base for a coach who arrived with heavy scrutiny attached.
The real test is still the football
Brazil's bigger problem is not whether Ancelotti can win over the room. It is whether the football can match the reputation. Sunday’s 6-2 win over Panama came in Brazil's penultimate match before the World Cup, but the lasting debate is about the shape he wants and the players he is asking to carry it.
Ancelotti has used a bold 4-2-4, built around star quality. He said: “We have two of the five best players in the world.” That is a fair way to frame the attack, because Vinícius Júnior has 36 appearances and 16 goals across all competitions in 2025, while Casemiro still brings serious volume with 34 Premier League appearances in the same year.
The issue is that the 4-2-4 has not yet consistently produced the club-level chemistry he wants from Vinícius Júnior and Lucas Paquetá. That is where the argument around Brazil gets more serious. The goodwill is real, the language work is real, and the survey numbers are real. The final judgment will depend on whether Ancelotti can turn all of that into a side that carries its stars well enough in the tournament that matters most.
Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002, and the country will not care much about approval ratings once the tournament begins. For now, though, Ancelotti has bought himself something useful, a patient start and a room that seems willing to listen when the next match arrives.
FAQ
Why do Brazil supporters already trust Carlo Ancelotti before the World Cup?
Ancelotti has won early trust by adapting quickly, hiring a Portuguese teacher and committing to four lessons a week. A Quaest survey put approval of his work at 41%, ahead of 29% who disapprove, and Brazil have six wins, two draws and three defeats in his first 11 matches.
How is Carlo Ancelotti trying to fit into Brazilian football culture?
He said, “I'm the one who has to make the effort to speak Portuguese here.” He also hired a Portuguese teacher and committed to four lessons a week. The contract renewal was delayed by about a month so three CBF staff members could also be extended until 2030.
Can Carlo Ancelotti's 4-2-4 system work for Brazil at the World Cup?
That remains the big football question. Ancelotti has said, “We have two of the five best players in the world,” but the bold 4-2-4 has not yet consistently produced the club-level chemistry he wants from Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
