Ancelotti's Brazil: The Squad That Could End 24 Years Of Hurt
Ancelotti's first Brazil squad. Twenty-four years without a sixth star. Our predicted 26 for the Selecão, our XI vs Morocco, and the shirt to back it.
An Italian has never managed Brazil. Not once in the history of the Selecão. Then Carlo Ancelotti walked in — the man who won the European Cup four times, the calmest presence in world football — and Brazil handed him the keys. Twenty-four years without a sixth star. A 5.6% chance according to the Opta supercomputer at the time of the draw. And a squad in the middle of an injury crisis that would make most coaches pack their bags.
Ancelotti doesn't pack bags. He finds solutions. Here's ours.
Bento Starts For Brazil. Ederson Waits.
Alisson is the past. The fight is between Bento — technically sharp, commanding in one-on-ones, and Ancelotti's incumbent — and Ederson, whose distribution from the back would suit Ancelotti's build-up system perfectly.
We go with Bento as the starter. Ederson in the 26, absolutely. But Bento has earned it through the qualifying campaign and the transition period. You don't drop a goalkeeper who hasn't made a mistake. Ederson is the best squad backup in the world.
Brazil's Defensive Crisis: Militão, Marquinhos, and the Morocco Test
This is where it gets complicated. Militão suffered a hamstring relapse in April 2026. He was already coming back from a serious setback. Ancelotti knows him from Real Madrid — knows what he offers, knows what he needs. He is not match-ready for June 13. That is the decision.
Our call: include him in the preliminary squad, make the final cut closer to May 30. A fit Militão against Morocco changes the defensive picture entirely. A half-fit Militão against Morocco is a liability.
In his absence — or to his left — Marquinhos remains the cornerstone. He has been Brazil's most consistent defender across two World Cups. Bremer offers the physical presence. Gabriel Magalhães brings Premier League experience. Danilo at right-back, Guilherme Arana on the left.
Brazil's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed in friendlies against France and Croatia in early 2026. They pressed high but were caught on the cou