Brazil`s national team, the five-time World Cup champions, will see Carlo Ancelotti take charge for the first time on Thursday as they face Ecuador in a crucial South American World Cup qualifying match. This marks the highly anticipated debut for the acclaimed coach.
Following a challenging start to their campaign, Brazil currently sits in fourth place in the 10-team CONMEBOL table with 21 points after 14 games. While seemingly well-positioned for qualification, holding a six-point lead over the intercontinental playoff spot and seven over eighth place, the team`s goal for these upcoming qualifiers is not only to secure their berth at the 2026 World Cup but also to demonstrate improvement under Ancelotti`s new leadership.
Ancelotti faces an immediate test, as Ecuador is placed second in the table, two points ahead of Brazil and other contenders like Uruguay and Paraguay. A victory against Brazil on Thursday could potentially guarantee Ecuador`s spot at the 2026 World Cup, although their qualification would be confirmed by a draw in the Venezuela-Bolivia match the following day.
Last Meeting
The teams previously met in September in Curitiba, a match Brazil won 1-0. Brazil held more possession and scored the only goal in the 30th minute via Rodrygo. While Brazil had a slight edge in shots (10-9 total, 3-2 on target), the match was relatively balanced in terms of attacking opportunities.
What Ecuador Are Saying
In a highly competitive CONMEBOL qualifying tournament, Ecuador holds second place and is on the verge of securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup. This would mark one of their few appearances in the tournament, highlighting their strong performance in this cycle, which isn`t solely due to the World Cup expansion. To potentially clinch qualification early, they need a win against Brazil, a feat they haven`t achieved in this campaign.
Coach Sebastian Beccacece believes his team has significantly improved since their 1-0 loss nine months ago. He stated, “Feeling that you`re growing is key… I`ve noticed in the last few matches… that the team has been very dominant… We`ve grown a lot since we started.”
Beccacece, who took over last August, acknowledged areas for further development, specifically mentioning set pieces: “There`s a lot to improve on set pieces… Overall, I`m very happy and satisfied… we have to continue with that ambition so we don`t stop at what we`re achieving… we don`t know if it`s enough.”
What Brazil Are Saying
Since their quarterfinal exit at the 2022 World Cup and a subsequent Copa America elimination, Brazil has experienced a period of inconsistent form. This performance dip highlighted the need for a fresh approach, which is set to begin with Ancelotti`s inaugural match on Thursday.
Both Ancelotti and the Brazilian squad express high ambitions, frequently drawing comparisons to elite club teams. Ancelotti himself referenced his former club Real Madrid upon taking the role.
Ancelotti declared, “`My Brazil will play like Real Madrid, but not like Real Madrid this year, rather like Real Madrid last year. That`s what I want.`”
Captain Marquinhos, fresh from winning the UEFA Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain under Luis Enrique, also commented on the potential for rapid change.
Marquinhos shared his perspective: “`I saw at PSG that things can change very quickly, the dynamics, the energy, everything… I hope that happens here, too… With his experience, the adaptation will be quick… He brings energy, something new… It`s just a start, it will depend a lot on our performance on the field.`”
Predicted Lineups
Ecuador: Hernan Galindez, Joel Ordonez, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapie, Alan Franco, Moises Caicedo, Pedro Vite, Pervis Estupinan, Alan Minda, Enner Valencia, Darwin Guagua
Brazil: Alisson, Augusto, Marquinhos, Leo Ortiz, Lucas Beraldo, Casemiro, Ederson, Bruno Guimaraes, Matheus Cunha, Raphinha, Vinicius Junior
Player to Watch
Vinicius Junior, Brazil. Vinicius Junior embodies the traditional flair associated with Brazilian players. He has become Real Madrid`s leading star, performing crucially in Champions League finals and becoming a Ballon d`Or candidate. His outstanding club form hasn`t fully translated to the national team yet, but Ancelotti`s arrival could change that, given their successful history at Real Madrid where Vinicius scored 90 goals in 198 appearances under him. Vinicius has a prime opportunity in Thursday`s match to kick off the new era positively with a significant contribution.
Storyline to Watch
Ancelotti`s First Game. Despite his vast club experience, Ancelotti`s venture into national team management with Brazil presents a unique challenge with limited preparation time before the 2026 World Cup. His task is to transform a recently inconsistent team into a global powerhouse, living up to his own comparison to Real Madrid. The speed at which he can achieve this transformation is crucial, especially with a restricted match schedule. The legendary coach needs to make an immediate impact to guide Brazil towards their goal of winning a first World Cup title since 2002.
Prediction
Predicting Brazil`s performance in their first game under a new coach is difficult, particularly against a motivated Ecuador side with strong qualification hopes. However, Brazil possesses significant individual quality capable of deciding the match. Players like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha (coming off a strong season), and the reliable Marquinhos provide ample threat. Despite the stakes for Ecuador, the match appears to be Brazil`s to control. Prediction: Ecuador 0, Brazil 1.
