As a perennial contender for the title, Brazil's prestigious national football team heads into the upcoming World Cup with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over them. Since their unexpected exit in the quarter-finals of the 2022 Qatar tournament against Croatia (1-1, 4-2 on penalties), the team's luster has notably diminished, and the dream of securing a sixth World Cup title appears increasingly distant. Over the past four years, following Tite's departure after the tournament, the Brazilian squad has undergone a series of coaching changes, with three different head coaches—Fernando Diniz, Dorival, and Carlo Ancelotti—taking the helm without being able to effectively address the team's challenges.
Compounding their issues, Brazil faced elimination in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Copa America and only managed a disappointing fifth place in the South American qualification standings. This underperformance highlights a glaring lack of standout individual talents, which is particularly troubling for a nation that has long celebrated creativity and the art of dribbling. Amidst this turmoil, the call-up of Neymar, the last representative of a dying breed of Brazilian football artistry, was met with relief. However, the Santos forward, plagued by numerous injuries, is far from guaranteed a starting position. Nevertheless, Ancelotti has succumbed to public pressure by including him in the squad. Despite being physically diminished at 34 years old, Neymar remains one of the few current Brazilian players capable of producing extraordinary moments on the pitch, alongside key attackers Vinicius and Raphinha, which likely influenced Ancelotti's decision.
As the Italian coach prepares for his inaugural World Cup as a national team manager, the road ahead looks challenging. Fortunately for him, his future with the team appears secure, as the Brazilian Football Confederation extended his contract on May 14 until 2030. In Group C, Morocco, the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, is anticipated to be Brazil's primary threat. Following the turmoil caused by the African Confederation’s controversial decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final to Morocco—disputed by Senegal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport—the Atlas Lions will aim to erase the controversies with their new head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi. Ouahbi, who guided the U20 World Champions in 2025, has taken over from Walid Regragui.
For Scotland, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, securing a third place and advancing to the knockout stage would already be considered an achievement. Meanwhile, Haiti, a nation plagued by natural disasters, poverty, gang violence, and political chaos, has secured its place in the World Cup fifty-two years after its only previous participation in 1974.
As reported by france24.com.
