Brazil has resumed talks to appoint Carlo Ancelotti as head coach for the 2026 World Cup.

The Brazilian football federation has reportedly renewed its interest in Carlo Ancelotti, aiming for him to lead the team in the 2026 World Cup.

This follows Brazil’s humiliating 4-1 loss to Argentina in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night, leaving them in fourth place. The top six teams from CONMEBOL automatically qualify for the tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

In 2023, the CBF pursued Carlo Ancelotti and were ready to make him Brazil’s first foreign head coach.

According to The Athletic, the federation has renewed contact with the Italian as pressure builds on Dorival Junior. Real Madrid, however, claims to be unaware of any discussions.

Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario previously confirmed the Selecao’s 2023 pursuit of Ancelotti was real, though the coach ultimately declined. At the time, Ancelotti was in the final year of his Real Madrid contract, and Brazil hoped to lure him with the presence of his Los Blancos stars in the squad.

CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues, re-elected unopposed this week, had previously assured the nation that Ancelotti would take over once his Madrid contract expired in 2024, just in time for the Copa America in June.

“He will be here, you can be sure,” Rodrigues confidently stated.

However, the appointment never materialized. Instead, Fernando Diniz was given temporary charge while also coaching Fluminense, before Dorival Junior was eventually appointed.

Ronaldo later revealed that Real Madrid nearly dismissed Ancelotti, which could have cleared the path for his move to Brazil.

‘It was not a fantasy because I helped in the process by talking to Carlo, but he was not released,’ he told Charla Podcast. ‘Real Madrid did not release him.

‘After negotiating everything got stuck because he didn’t have Real Madrid’s release.

‘If he hadn’t won anything, Real Madrid would have fired him and Ancelotti would have come, but he won the Champions League and stayed for another year.’