The hard work of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is officially off Brazil's to-do list, but the five-time champions will continue the balancing act of final preparations for next summer's tournament while adjusting to life under new head coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Ahead of just his third match in charge of Brazil, it is understandable that Ancelotti's version of the national team is so far an unfinished product. Expectations, both internal and external, are high – not only will the Selecao arrive in North America 24 years removed from their last World Cup title, the new head coach has set the bar fairly high. "My Brazil will play like Real Madrid , but not like Real Madrid this year, rather like Real Madrid last year," he said at his introductory press conference in May. "That's what I

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