World Cup 2026: Carlo Ancelotti under fire after Morocco exposed Brazil’s weaknesses in group opener

Carlo Ancelotti’s start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come under intense scrutiny after Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening group-stage match, with supporters and pundits questioning both the team’s performance and the coach’s tactical approach.

Morocco arrived with a clear plan and immediately put Brazil under pressure. The Atlas Lions pressed aggressively, attacked with speed, and disrupted the rhythm of the five-time world champions from the opening whistle. Their energetic display produced a remarkable 12 shots within the first 30 minutes, highlighting Brazil’s struggles to establish control of the contest.

The pressure eventually paid off when Ismail Saibari capped a flowing attacking move with a composed finish beyond Alisson Becker to hand Morocco a deserved lead. Brazil managed to respond through Vinícius Júnior, whose equaliser ensured the Seleção avoided defeat, but the performance did little to silence growing concerns surrounding the team.

Tactical Decisions Draw Heavy Scrutiny

Much of the post-match discussion centred on Ancelotti’s decisions before and during the game. His choice to leave Endrick among the substitutes became a major talking point, while Brazil’s overall tactical setup was criticised for lacking urgency and attacking cohesion.

Supporters voiced their frustrations across social media, arguing that Brazil looked short of creativity and struggled to react effectively to Morocco’s intensity.

“I hope that in the next match Ancelotti thinks a bit and puts our boy Endrick to play alongside Vini, or forget about this World Cup title,” an X user said.

“Does Ancelotti even know there’s a rule in football that allows substitutions? Like… it’s not that hard, you know,” another said.

Questions Raised Over Brazil’s Identity

The criticism extended beyond individual decisions, with observers pointing to broader concerns about the team’s collective structure. Many felt Brazil lacked a clear identity throughout the match and relied heavily on moments of individual quality rather than a cohesive game plan.

Vinícius Júnior’s contribution was widely viewed as crucial in preventing an even more disappointing result, with the Real Madrid star once again emerging as Brazil’s standout performer. Critics argued that the team still lacks a reliable collective framework and questioned the overall progress made under Ancelotti’s leadership.

Those concerns have only intensified following a World Cup opener that fell short of expectations and left Brazil facing uncomfortable questions at an early stage of the tournament.

Pressure Mounts Ahead of Haiti Clash

Brazil now head into their next group-stage encounter with growing pressure to deliver a convincing response. They will face Haiti on Friday in a fixture that could prove pivotal to their World Cup campaign.

A strong performance would help ease concerns surrounding Ancelotti and his squad, but another disappointing display is likely to increase scrutiny on the Italian coach as Brazil seek to reassert themselves among the tournament favourites.