Brazil appoint ‘most successful coach in the world’, aim to win 2026 World Cup

The Brazilian Football Confederation on Monday announced celebrated manager Carlo Ancelotti as the head coach of the national men's team.

"The greatest national team in the history of football will now be led by the most successful coach in the world," CBF posted on social media. Italian Ancelotti, who is in charge of Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid, will be the first full-time foreign coach to manage the Selecao in a century.

Ancelotti's contract with Real will end following the conclusion of the La Liga season by the end of May. The 65-year-old is expected to officially take over his Brazilian job by the end of the month.

The Italian is one of the most successful football coaches, having won league and European titles with multiple clubs in the five top leagues on the continent. He has won a record five Champions League titles.

"He will lead Brazil until the 2026 World Cup and will already coach the team in the next two qualifying games against Ecuador and Paraguay, next month,” said Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF.

"Bringing Carlo Ancelotti to lead Brazil is more than a strategic move. It is a statement to the world that we are determined to reclaim the top spot on the podium. He is the greatest coach in history, and now he is leading the greatest national team on the planet. Together, we will write new glorious chapters for Brazilian football," Rodrigues said.

Brazil's next two fixtures in South American World Cup qualifiying will be at Ecuador on June 5 and against Paraguay in Sao Paulo five days later. Brazil are the most successful nation when it comes to men's World Cups, having won the title five times, with the last one coming in 2002.