Carlo Ancelotti is set to lead Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking his first time as a head coach in the tournament. The Italian tactician will take charge of the Seleção in the competition co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Though a multiple champion at club level, Ancelotti has never managed a team in a World Cup. However, he has experienced the tournament from other angles – as a player and an assistant coach.
**Two World Cups as a Player**
Ancelotti was part of Italy’s squad for the 1982 World Cup but missed the final due to injury just months before the tournament, watching from home as the Azzurri lifted the trophy in Spain.
Four years later, he made the cut for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico but did not get any playing time, witnessing Italy’s round-of-16 elimination by France from the bench.
His most active World Cup as a player came in 1990 on home soil. Ancelotti, then a Milan midfielder, featured in Italy’s opening match against Austria, the quarterfinal against Ireland, and the third-place playoff against England.
**Runner-Up in 1994 as Assistant Coach**
After retiring, Ancelotti joined Arrigo Sacchi’s coaching staff as an assistant for the Italian national team in 1992. He was part of the backroom team at the 1994 World Cup, where Italy reached the final but lost to Brazil on penalties after Roberto Baggio’s infamous miss. This experience left a lasting mark on his career.
Ancelotti left the national team setup in 1995 and did not return to an international role until three decades later. In May 2025, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) officially announced him as the head coach of the Seleção for the 2026 cycle.
With a wealth of experience from club football – including multiple Champions League titles with Milan and Real Madrid – Ancelotti now steps into the international spotlight with one of football’s most storied nations, aiming to make history at the World Cup.