KLIK SAJA - Carlo Ancelotti will oversee his first match as head coach of the Brazilian national team as the Selecao travel to Guayaquil to face Ecuador on Thursday night.
The former Real Madrid boss steps in to replace Dorival Junior, who was sacked following a crushing 4-1 defeat to archrivals Argentina in March's World Cup qualifying window.
Despite the setback, Brazil currently sit safely within the top six, meaning their place at the 2026 World Cup is not under immediate threat.
However, Ancelotti won't have the luxury of a slow start. Expectations are sky-high for Brazil to return to winning ways and deliver the kind of attractive, attacking football that has defined their history.
Brazil may be six points ahead of Venezuela in the final qualifying spot, but without the expanded World Cup format, their campaign could have ended in disaster—their first ever failure to qualify.
That danger is still looming. Brazil now face a tough challenge away to second-placed Ecuador. Even if they win their remaining home matches against Paraguay and Chile, it may not be enough to climb significantly in the standings.
The humiliating defeat to Argentina effectively marked the end of Dorival Junior's tenure, but to his credit, he left the team in a relatively comfortable position. At one point, it looked like Brazil might not even make the top six.
But a run of 11 points from a possible 15 before the trip to Buenos Aires has all but secured their spot at next summer's tournament. Now, Ancelotti has room to implement his ideas with less pressure on short-term results.
Dorival also managed to beat Ecuador in their earlier meeting, thanks to a lone goal from Rodrygo in a narrow 1-0 win last September.
Ecuador, meanwhile, have not beaten Brazil since 2004—going 13 games without a win. But under manager Sebastián Beccacece, they have been one of the standout teams in qualifying.
Despite starting with a three-point deduction, La Tricolor currently sit second behind Argentina with 26 points from 14 matches.
Their home form has been particularly impressive, as they remain unbeaten in Guayaquil, collecting 17 points from seven home games.
Only Colombia and Paraguay have managed to take anything from Ecuador at home, and both settled for goalless draws.
Remarkably, Ecuador have conceded just two goals in those seven home matches. However, they still have to host Brazil and Argentina—teams responsible for their only two defeats in the campaign—so their credentials will soon face the ultimate test.
