Brazil enter the 2026 World Cup as the world's sixth‑best side — their lowest pre‑tournament ranking since FIFA began compiling the list in 1992 — and travel into Group C with Morocco, Scotland and Haiti as they chase a 24‑year World Cup drought under Carlo Ancelotti.
The ranking is more than a number. Brazil were the only South American side to suffer six defeats in qualifying, a departure from the five losses they endured across the previous 20 years combined. Those results, and back‑to‑back quarter‑final exits in 2018 and 2022, have hardened scrutiny even though Ancelotti insists on belief: "I have a very talented squad," he said, adding, "I'm convinced we're going to have a great World Cup."
The tactical picture explains part of the concern. A recent 4‑2‑4 setup left Brazil's midfield exposed in a friendly with Panama, prompting plans to pivot toward a 4‑3‑3 or a 4‑2‑3‑1 to restore control. In possession Brazil attack in a dynamic 3‑2‑4‑1 shape; out of possession they press high out of a 4‑4‑2. The question is whether formation adjustments will translate into defensive stability against tournament opponents.
Balance will tilt heavily on Casemiro's shoulders. The midfielder, 34 years old, remains Brazil's midfield anchor and a rare source of goals from deeper positions — he has scored eight goals from set pieces with Manchester United in the Premier League this season, the highest tally by any player in Europe's top five leagues. Ancelotti will expect Casemiro to screen the defence and help link the transitions that have cost Brazil in recent matches.
Offensively the choices are plentiful. Brazil's front line includes Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha and Gabriel Martinelli; Vinicius was involved in five of Brazil's seven goals in Qatar and has scored 20 or more goals in five successive seasons at Real Madrid. Neymar was included in the squad despite global headlines about the decision — Ancelotti refused to close the door on him, saying: "He might play; he might not; he might be on the bench and come on."
Group C offers varied tests. Morocco arrive with momentum from a historic 2022 run that took them to fourth place — they were the first Arab and African nation to reach a World Cup semi‑final — and will be Brazil's most pressing threat in the group phase. Scotland return after a 28‑year absence and aim to progress past the group stage for the first time, while Haiti make only their second appearance after a 1974 campaign that ended in three losses.
Practical details for the tournament flow from the tactical and personnel puzzles. Expect Ancelotti to open with a formation designed to protect Casemiro while allowing the front four room to run; the coach's rotation choices for Neymar and the right moments to deploy Vinicius will be decisive. Ancelotti will also make history — he will become the first foreign coach to take charge of Brazil at a World Cup.
The friction at the heart of Brazil's summer is simple: they are clear favourites to win Group C and possess elite attacking talent, yet they arrive with their lowest pre‑World Cup ranking and a qualifying record that included six defeats. That contradiction forces a sharper look at selection and structure than Brazil have faced in years.
What to watch first: whether Ancelotti sticks with a compact three‑man midfield to protect the backline, and how quickly Casemiro can regain full control of transitional moments. If those pieces click, Brazil's front line will be free to decide games; if they don't, the team's class up front may not be enough.
The single unresolved question for Brazil this summer is not who will score — it is whether Ancelotti can fix the defensive balance quickly enough for the tournament. He has the players and the confidence; Brazil's lowest pre‑World Cup ranking and their six qualifying defeats have turned coaching decisions into the tournament's central gamble.
