Carlo Ancelotti after Brazil's draw with Morocco: 'You don't win the World Cup in the first match'
After a difficult 1-1 draw against Morocco in their World Cup opener, Carlo Ancelotti called for calm and defended his team.
Brazil narrowly avoided defeat in their opening 2026 World Cup match against Morocco, finishing 1-1 thanks to a goal from Vinicius. For head coach Carlo Ancelotti, this was his first-ever match at a World Cup, and he openly admitted that his team struggled with nerves early on.
I think the team was a bit anxious at the start. Nerves were on edge. We didn't keep the ball much. The second half was much better, but it was still difficult. I am certain that the team will do better in the next match. Carlo Ancelotti
Despite a challenging first half, Ancelotti praised his players' determination to fight until the final whistle. He dismissed criticism aimed at individual players, including Casemiro and Roger Ibanez, who were substituted during the game, insisting that the collective performance was the issue.
You can't think that the team will be perfect from the start, you don't win the World Cup in the first match. My confidence in the players is total. In football, not everything happens perfectly. This is only the beginning of the road. Carlo Ancelotti
Brazil will continue their Group C campaign with matches against Scotland and Haiti. These opponents are theoretically more manageable than Morocco, who are considered the main rivals for the Seleçao in this group.