Carlo Ancelotti, aged 66, has officially stepped down from his role at Real Madrid to take on Brazil national team coaching job for the first time in his illustrious career. His challenge couldn’t be any bigger reviving a Brazilian national team that’s been struggling for consistency and guiding them back to the top of world football. His immediate goal is clear: qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and bring the trophy back to Seleção.
Ancelotti’s journey began with a demanding test an away match against Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers. Ecuador, sitting just behind Argentina in the Latin American qualification standings, presented a formidable opponent. And the match, held on Ecuadorian soil, proved to be exactly as tough as expected.
In his debut match, Ancelotti couldn’t secure a win. But he also avoided defeat, with Brazil managing a goalless draw. Vinícius Júnior and his teammates failed to find the net, settling for a point that did little to improve their standings in the table.
Currently, Seleção sits in fourth place in the South American qualifiers, with 22 points from 15 matches. Ecuador stands second with 24 points, the same as third-placed Paraguay. The lack of impact from the draw is evident as Brazil now finds itself under more pressure with only a few matches left to secure qualification.
Brazil 0-0 Ecuador
The match itself reflected a conservative and cautious Brazilian approach. Brazil had only 47% possession compared to Ecuador’s 53%. More tellingly, the Seleção managed just 2 shots on target throughout the match, while Ecuador registered 3. Seleção total shot count stood at only 3, compared to Ecuador’s 7 attempts an unusually low output for a team known for its attacking flair.
Interestingly, the referee didn’t issue a single yellow card throughout the match. This absence of disciplinary action highlights the match’s subdued nature. Neither side played with enough attacking intensity, and both seemed more concerned with avoiding defeat than chasing victory.
Despite the lack of goals, there were key moments. Brazil’s first notable opportunity came in the 22nd minute when Vinícius Júnior found space on the left side and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot, only to be denied by Ecuador’s goalkeeper, Gonzalo Valle.
Three minutes later, Ecuador responded. John Yeboah received a clever pass from Moisés Caicedo and fired a dangerous left-footed strike from outside the box. Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker showed great reflexes to block the shot and keep the scores level.
In the 33rd minute, Casemiro nearly put Brazil ahead. He met a corner kick from Vinícius Júnior with a solid header, but the ball flew just over the crossbar. Ecuador answered back five minutes later as Joy Yeboah’s header missed narrowly.
Yeboah continued to threaten in the second half, notably in the 67th minute when he fired another strong shot, again following a Caicedo assist. But Alisson was once more up to the task. Brazil had a golden chance in the 76th minute Casemiro connected with a pass from Vinícius Júnior and struck cleanly, but Gonzalo Valle made a crucial save for Ecuador.
Ecuador nearly stole the win in stoppage time. In the 90+3rd minute, Parvis Estuminan had a clear shot from the left, but his left-footed effort sailed just wide of the far post, sparing Brazil from a late heartbreak.
While Ancelotti’s debut didn’t produce fireworks, it did give a glimpse into the challenges ahead. Brazil looked far from dominant and struggled to impose themselves against a resolute Ecuador side. With qualification still uncertain, Ancelotti must quickly find a formula to unlock Brazil’s attacking potential and restore their winning mentality.