Carlo Ancelotti sparked a major shift in international soccer after being officially announced as the next head coach of the Brazil national team. As the figurehead of the project leading up to the 2026 World Cup, the Italian manager has reportedly made his first move—reaching out to a familiar face from his Real Madrid days.
Following Real Madrid’s loss to Barcelona in El Clasico, Ancelotti’s departure timeline accelerated, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) quickly confirmed his upcoming role. Though he will remain with Real Madrid until the end of the season, Ancelotti has already started shaping Brazil’s squad behind the scenes.
According to Diario AS, Ancelotti has contacted Casemiro to discuss a potential return to the national team. The Manchester United midfielder has been out of Brazil’s plans since shortly after the 2022 World Cup, but Ancelotti reportedly wants him involved in the new era.
Ancelotti and Casemiro forged a strong bond during their time at Real Madrid, winning both the 2013–14 and 2021–22 UEFA Champions League titles together. Now that Casemiro has regained his form at Manchester United—playing a key role in the team’s Europa League campaign—he is back in the conversation for Brazil’s next squad list.
After Real Madrid’s final La Liga match on May 25 against Real Sociedad, Ancelotti is expected to travel to South America and officially begin his tenure. He will announce the squad for Brazil’s upcoming 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Ecuador on June 5 and Paraguay on June 10, with Casemiro now a strong candidate to make his return after nearly two years away from the national team.
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Ancelotti’s blueprint for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad
Ancelotti has signed a 14-month contract with the Brazil national team, committing to lead the Selecao through the 2026 World Cup. With limited time to assemble a competitive group, the experienced manager is expected to lean on trusted veterans and players already performing at a high level in Europe.
Reports indicate that, in addition to Casemiro, Ancelotti will evaluate players like Antony and will certainly monitor Neymar’s recovery and potential involvement. With little room to experiment with unproven prospects, the strategy will likely focus on building around proven leaders and club standouts—both on and off the pitch.
