Brazil's road to the World Cup was chaotic. Three managers came and went before the federation scrambled to appoint Carlo Ancelotti, its first foreign head coach. The five-time champions were knocked out by Norway in the round of 16, their earliest exit since 1990.
For former Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva, who lifted the trophy in 2002, the disappointment should be treated as an opportunity to restructure the national team and build stability.
He said: “There are lots of things to learn and adjust to make Brazil’s team competitive again.”
Why Brazil Fell Short At The World Cup
The Selecao arrived at the World Cup following a volatile four-year cycle which churned through four different managers and called up 95 players.
“We have declined from the last World Cups in terms of performance, in terms of team structure, the composition,” Gilberto said.
“The cycle of preparation for the World Cup, in my opinion, could have been a lot better. It was chaotic with four managers. It caused a lot of turbulence among the players.”
The federation struggled to establish continuity after Tite stepped down following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Under-23 coach Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz were brought on as short-term deals to steady the ship, to no avail. Their longer-term successor Dorival Junior was sacked after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Argentina in qualifying.
This disruption was compounded by controversy. Former Brazilian Football Confederation Chief Samir Xaud was accused of using the federation’s funds to cover accommodation and travel expenses for people in his inner circle, according to Brazilian news outlet Portal Leo Dias. The CFB denied the allegations.
When Ancelotti, the most successful manager in the Champion’s League, left Real Madrid to take the helm, he had only a year to reshape the team and end the longest World Cup drought in the country’s history.
His efforts were hampered by a series of injuries. Neymar struggled with a calf problem, first-choice right back Wesley Franca was ruled out with a thigh injury, Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury against Haiti and Lucas Paqueta picked up a similar complaint against Japan.
Why Gilberto Silva Believes Defeat Can Drive Change
Gilberto Silva said defeat can be a catalyst for growth: “For the young fans and the Brazilian players, there's a lot of lessons. I think you have to learn a lot from it. And when you lose, this is one of the best moments to make the adjustments you need.”
He suggested that stability is crucial in international football, and the Brazilian Football Confederation appears to share that view. CBF director Rodrigo Caetano confirmed that Ancelotti will stay as head coach to avoid repeating the uncertainty of the past four years. They extended his contract his contract through to the 2030 World Cup.
Brazil’s World Cup campaign also revived a broader debate over whether the national side have lost the aura established by generations of players such as Pele, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
The absence of an obvious successor, and the expectation of victory, is an opportunity to address broader questions about the direction of Brazilian football.
Why Brazil's Future Depends On Youth Development
It’s not as if Brazil have stopped producing talent. Silva’s concern is how that talent is developed and integrated into the senior side.
He said: “We have to work in the youth category, U15, U17, U19, up to the professional level.”
Brazil is known for producing technical wonderkids. Brazilian clubs invest heavily in their academies, known as categorias de base, and programs like the CBF’s “Força São Paulo” and Fluminense’s “Escolinha do Flu” visit remote communities, where children play on the street, to identify raw potential.
Dr Guilherme Machado said that Brazilian children often begin formal coaching later than in countries like Spain. Before joining academies, many develop through futsal and street football, which improves close control and rapid decision making.
As a result, Brazil are a dominant force in youth football, having won five titles in the under-20 World Cup and four in the under-17s.
Carlo Ancelotti received criticism for prioritising experience over young talent. Brazil fielded a relatively old squad at the World Cup, with an average age of 28.65 years.
Ancelotti's selection of a 34-year-old Neymar backfired as he played just 37 minutes across the whole tournament. His only contribution was a stoppage-time consolatory penalty against Norway.
Chelsea striker Joao Pedro, coming off a 20-goal club season, was left out of the squad entirely. Endrick, Brazil's most talked-about young forward, played just 102 minutes across five matches before the last-16 exit. He bagged an assist against Scotland in the group stages.
Chelsea’s Estevao (nicknamed “Messinho”) was missed in attack. Ancelotti had called the Palmeiras academy graduate the “guaranteed future” of Brazil, as the top scorer in his tenure with five goals in seven games, but a Grade 4 hamstring tear in April ended his hopes of a World Cup debut.
Players like Rayan – who became Brazil's youngest player to provide an assist at the world Cup after teeing up Vinicius Jr in the opening minutes of the Scotland game – are likely to form the core of Ancelotti’s plans as he builds towards 2030.
The CBF has expressed a commitment to integrating its youth teams so players understand the identity of the Brazilian National Team, play with the same philosophy, and have an increasingly natural transition.
Samir Xaud said: “When the committees work in an integrated way, sharing information, methodologies, and monitoring the development of the players, Brazilian football is the winner. We are building an environment that favors the evolution of our talents from the youth categories onwards."
Why Rebuilding Brazil Requires Everyone's Support
Gilberto Silva warned that Brazil’s early elimination could damage confidence in the national side: “This result for us was very negative. It might have an impact in terms of credibility.”
“There's a lot of frustration for everybody, for the fans, for people from the confederation, the players especially, and the staff. But this is a long conversation and everyone has to talk and work together.”
This is not something that one manager can solve alone. The success of Brazil’s next cycle will also reflect the federation’s ability to provide a long-term direction and whether fans can embrace a team entering a period of transition.
What Comes Next For Brazil Under Carlo Ancelotti
Now that the World Cup campaign is over, attention turns to the 2028 Copa America. Ancelotti will have a full four-year cycle, with his extension through to 2030, to integrate Brazil's younger generation before their next World Cup attempt.
For Gilberto Silva, the response must be collective: “It’s time for everyone to work together to make Brazil strong again.”
