Brazil have not won a World Cup since 2002. Since then, every campaign has come unstuck as soon as they come up against a European side in the knockout stages. Ancelotti is seen as the man to get them over that hurdle.

Carlo Ancelotti faces myriad problems as Brazil coach and only has about a dozen games to resolve them before the World Cup if he wants to have a decent shot at the 2026 title.

Carlo Ancelotti has agreed to take over as head coach of the Brazil national team. It is one of the most eye-catching appointments in international football history. For a team so deeply tied to the nation's 'beautiful game' identity,