The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has reaffirmed its confidence in head coach Carlo Ancelotti despite Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, a result that prolonged the five-time champions’ wait for a sixth world title to at least 28 years.
Norway striker Erling Haaland scored both goals at the New York/New Jersey Stadium to eliminate Brazil, sparking widespread criticism of the team’s performance, Ancelotti’s tactical decisions and the overall direction of Brazilian football.
Amid growing calls for change, CBF Football Director Rodrigo Caetano insisted the Italian coach would remain in charge throughout the current World Cup cycle.
Ancelotti, who signed a contract extension in May through the 2030 tournament, took over after Brazil endured a period of instability under three interim managers while the federation waited for his departure from Real Madrid.
“He is our manager and will be throughout this cycle,” Caetano said.
“One of the main reasons we failed in this World Cup was not to have proper, stable guidance long term that would have prepared our national team the way it should for a World Cup and we cannot make the same mistake again.”
Despite the federation’s backing, Ancelotti’s decisions came under intense scrutiny.
Critics questioned his decision to allow midfielder Bruno Guimarães to take an early penalty, which was saved, while veteran players Casemiro and Danilo remained on the pitch throughout a game in which Brazil struggled to create chances.
Ancelotti also introduced Neymar midway through the second half, but the move had little impact beyond the forward scoring a late penalty in stoppage time to reduce the deficit.
Brazilian media were equally unforgiving in their assessment.
One newspaper criticised Neymar’s conduct after his goal, stating:
“The scene of Neymar arguing with the goalkeeper after the penalty – with the score already standing at a level that, even if Brazil had scored, would have seen them knocked out of the World Cup – seems to reveal a man incapable of stepping away from his own reflection.”
“There are people who need to be the protagonists of victory. Neymar seems to need to be the protagonist of failure as well.”
Sports broadcaster Andre Rizek described the situation as the lowest point in the nation’s football history.
“Brazilian football has hit rock bottom,” he said. “Brazil have gotten used to losing. We’ve lost to Senegal, Japan, Morocco, Colombia… Ran over by Argentina twice. It is official: we are living the worst moment in Brazilian football’s history.”
Another leading Brazilian newspaper criticised Ancelotti’s substitutions, saying they failed to inspire an underperforming side. It also highlighted statistics showing Brazil had just 35 percent possession against Norway — their lowest in a World Cup match since records began in 1966.
With the tournament now over for Brazil, attention turns to whether this disappointing campaign becomes another painful chapter in the country’s football history or the foundation for a long-term rebuilding process under Ancelotti.
