Ancelotti turns to youth as Brazil begin post-World Cup rebuild

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FE Team | Published: July 30, 2026 22:52:14

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RIO DE JANEIRO, July 30 (AP): Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti is still recovering from his team's round-of-16 loss to Norway in the World Cup.
But as the 67-year-old Italian turns to the next four years on the job, he pledges to closely watch youth division players and the country's squad at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to spearhead an overhaul.
Ancelotti also said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at the headquarters of the Brazilian soccer confederation in Rio de Janeiro that the five-time World Cup winners don't need to copy defending champion Spain or high-powered France to win a sixth.
"We don't need to copy - we need to learn where we can improve," Ancelotti said in the confederation's museum, where much of Brazil's national team silverware is kept. "Some positions are well-covered, both in defense and attack. We are looking for improvement and development among the midfielders. And the Olympics could be a crucial moment (to find players)."
Ancelotti, who returned to Brazil on Sunday, has heard a lot about the Tokyo Olympics gold medal match since he arrived. Five years ago, Brazil beat Spain 2-1 to defend its title. Eight of the Spanish players in that game plus coach Luis de La Fuente and are now World Cup winners, but Brazil only took midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and striker Matheus Cunha to the 2026 World Cup.
"We are in contact with the U-15, U-17, and U-20 coaches to identify talent and track their progress, ensuring they are prepared for the next World Cup," Ancelotti said. "Four years ago, Rayan was playing U-17. It is vital to look at youth development now so that by 2030 we have another generation of players progressing like him."
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Many Brazil fans might not be that patient; they often expect stars to deliver and players to have leading roles wherever they play. But Ancelotti says the set up he plans is different from that.
"At this moment, football doesn't need one single star - we need to reinforce the concept of the team," the coach said. "Brazil doesn't have a single reference point right now, and it doesn't need one. We have many great players. The goal is to build a strong, cohesive team."
Three friendlies, two against Australia in September and one against India in October, will mark the beginning of the new cycle for Brazil's first-ever fulltime foreign coach. He knows pressure will be on until the 2028 edition of Copa America. Ancelotti says a combination of players that make it to the continental tournament and those younger going to Los Angeles could make the 2030 World Cup roster.
Striker Neymar, who made Ancelotti's squad for this summer's tournament despite serious doubts about his fitness, is not in coach's plans going forward. The 34-year-old star repeated earlier this week that he thought his time with the national team was over.