Brazil head coach, Carlo Ancelotti has disclosed that the team lost their 2026 World Cup campaign during a second-half hydration break against Norway in the Round of 16, admitting his tactical changes immediately following the stoppage were a mistake.
In an interview with ESPN, Ancelotti stated that his main miscalculation was falsely believing his team had lost control of the match during that water break when they actually had not. The resulting tactical adjustments disrupted the team’s rhythm, allowing Norway and Erling Haaland to capitalize and score the decisive goals that eliminated Brazil.
Reflecting on the match, Ancelotti said:
“I think we lost the World Cup during the hydration break vs Norway.
“Until that moment, the team was in control. It’s also true Norway had a lot of possession in their half, they played the same way against England. They controlled the game and they could’ve won.
“My mistake may have been thinking that the team had lost control of the game when, in fact, it had not.”
“I made a few changes to the line up, and then we had the problem with Erling Haaland’s goal.”
He also emphasized that Brazil does not need to copy current champions Spain or France to capture a sixth world title.
“We don’t have to copy. We have to learn where we can improve. Some positions are well covered, both in defense and attack.
“We are looking for improvement and development among the midfielders, and the Olympics could be a key moment to find players,” Ancelotti said.
