Carlo Ancelotti agrees to ditch Real Madrid, to coach Brazil at 2026 World Cup
The experienced Ancelotti will replace Dorival Junior who was sacked in March.
Italian great Carlo Ancelotti will leave Real Madrid this summer and head off to coach the Brazil national team following weeks of speculation over the 68 year old Italian's future.
The experienced Ancelotti, who has achieved top most honours in club football by winning several major European Leagues as well as the Champions League as a player and manager, will replace Dorival Junior who was sacked in March.
Ancelotti has been rumoured to be on his way out of Madrid following a disappointing season that might see them lose out to bitter rivals Barcelona in all available domestic trophies.
Over the weekend, they lost the Copa Del Rey final to Barcelona and trail the Blaugrana in the race for the league with just a few games left to play.
According to Italian Journalist Fabrizio Romano, Ancelotti will leave Madrid at the end of the current league season and will not coach the Madristas during the upcoming Club World Cup, which will be held in the USA this summer.
"Carlo Ancelotti and Brazil have reached an agreement in principle for the Italian to become Seleçao head coach for the World Cup 2026. Deal valid from June, NOT after Clubs World Cup," he said on his X page Monday night.
"Real Madrid and Ancelotti will part ways nicely with formal steps needed next," he added.
The Brazilian Football Confederation want Ancelotti on the touchline for Brazil's friendlies in June against Ecuador and Paraguay, according to Romano.
It would be a quick turnaround going from Real Madrid's final game on May 25 to the Brazil national team on June 4, but there's little time to waste if he's going to install his tactics and system with the World Cup just over a year away.
Ancelotti leaves Real Madrid for the second time with two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, two Supercopa de España, and UEFA Champions League trophies.
He also won the UEFA Super Cup in 2022 and 2024, plus the old FIFA Club World Cup.
The expectation is that Real Madrid will have a new manager on the touchline for the new Club World Cup come the summer.
Ancelotti will continue to manage the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick with Brazil while aiming to get the most out of other talent like Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli and Bruno Guimaraes and others.