Brazil have won the World Cup five times, with the most recent triumph in 2002, and Ancelotti’s first games with them are two South American World Cup qualifiers.

They play against Ecuador away on 5 June before a home game against Paraguay in Sao Paulo five days later.

Ancelotti was welcomed by former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and has replaced Dorival Junior, who was sacked at the end of March following a 4–1 defeat by Argentina, a humiliating loss that was the latest in a series of poor results.

Brazil are fourth in South American World Cup qualifying with four matches to go, with the top six teams earning direct qualification to the competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The team’s struggles began more than two years ago when they were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals. They have since lost five of their past 14 games, conceding 16 goals.