Ancelotti Sparks Debate in Brazil by Questioning World Cup “Obligation”
Carlo Ancelotti, the current coach of the Brazilian national team, has ignited controversy in Brazil after voicing his disagreement with a report in French newspaper L’Équipe that framed the Seleção as having an “obligation” to win the 2026 world Cup, to be hosted in the United states, Canada, and Mexico.
In a recent interview, Ancelotti cautioned against assuming victory, stating: “Who, in football, has the obligation to win? Not even the one who thinks he is the best has it. So many things can happen that change the result.” He drew on his own experience, noting, “I spent six years in Real madrid and I didn’t win six Champions Leagues.I won three.”
Ancelotti further clarified his position, emphasizing, “It is indeed an obligation to try, but nobody has the obligation to win.” This statement resonated notably strongly given Brazil’s status as the most successful nation in World Cup history, with five titles – their last coming in 2002 at the Korea-Japan tournament.
The Italian coach acknowledged the immense pressure associated with leading the Brazilian team, and his comments were interpreted as an attempt to manage expectations amidst a period of relative instability for the national squad.
Ancelotti’s sentiment echoes that of other coaches in recent years. Fernando Gago, while managing Racing in Argentina in 2023, expressed a similar view regarding the League cup, stating, “This team is obliged to win, obviously, but it is indeed not an obligation. We need to compete to win something: one thing is to win it and another is to try to win it. because winning is what all teams in Argentine football want.”
The 66-year-old Ancelotti, a multiple champion with both real Madrid and milan, also shared his experience adapting to South American football, describing it as ”easy… another rhythm. I have to soak up the country’s culture, so I settled in Rio de Janeiro in an excellent atmosphere, seriously.”
