Carlo Ancelotti backs Brazil for ‘fantastic World Cup’ ahead of draw, makes Premier League title winner prediction

The Selecao have lost in the quarter-finals in four of the five World Cups since their last victory in 2002.

They have endured some turbulent times in recent years and turned to former Real Madrid boss Ancelotti in May 2025 to right the ship, following the dismissal of Dorival Junior.

Ancelotti has enjoyed a trophy-laden club career, lifting the UEFA Champions League five times and winning all of Europe’s top five league titles.

Now he has his sights on international glory.

“I love to be in Brazil,” he told TNT Sports’ Ally McCoist of the draw, which you can follow live with TNT Sports.

“It’s a fantastic experience, different job, we have a fantastic goal, to be competitive at the World Cup and to try and win it.

“I love this period but it’s different. Maybe I needed this after a lot of years training day by day, and the matches, I have more quiet now and more focus on my team.

“Brazil have fantastic players and we can have a fantastic World Cup.”

The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place on December 5, with Brazil in Pot 1 alongside England, Argentina and France.

AMong the Players and Ancelotti's Disposal Are Arental's Gabriel Martineli, Manchester United's Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, Real Madrid's Vincius Junior and Rodrygo, Chelsea's Estevao and Joao Pedro, and Barcelona's rapinha.

Brazil is Ancelotti’s first international job after 30 years managing clubs around Europe, including Real Madrid, Chelsea, AC Milan, Everton, and Paris Saint-Germain.

He says that he still has a soft spot for Everton, having spent 18 months there before leaving for Madrid in 2021.

“I loved the period at Everton… I am always looking for their results, (David) Moyes is doing a fantastic job, they have a new stadium, and one day I will be there to support them.”

Ancelotti ‘always looking’ for Everton results, hopes to visit new stadium

Video credit: TNT Sports

With plenty of Brazilians playing in Europe, Ancelotti is keeping an eye across the continent.

He predicts his former club and 15-time winners Real Madrid to win the Champions League, and backs Arsenal to triumph in the Premier League.

“I am a fan of the Premier League and Arsenal have started really well and are a fantastic team, a solid team,” he said.

“Of course I am a supporter of Arsenal because I have Gabriel, I support Tottenham too because they have Richarlison, and Man Utd, I support the Brazilian players.”

Ancelotti also spoke about his love for former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.

“He is a modern midfielder, really dynamic player, he scored a lot of goals, box to box, he has characteristics that you want from a midfielder.”

Ancelotti tips ‘fantastic’ Arsenal to win Premier League title

Video credit: TNT Sports

What are the World Cup draw pots?

• Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
• Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
• Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
• Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2

How will the draw work?

There are 12 groups at next summer’s World Cup, and each group will include one team from each of the four pots.

The three co-hosts will be identified by different coloured balls in the draw. Green for Mexico (A1), red for Canada (A2), and blue for the USA (D1).

Their group positions are pre-determined and will play their matches in their own countries. Mexico for example, know that they will play their first match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, on June 11.

The remaining nine teams in pot 1, all identified by the colour white, are then drawn into the first available group in alphabetical order. Pots 2, 3, and 4 then go through the same process.

No group can have more than one team from the same conference drawn into it, except from Europe, who have more teams (16) than groups participating.

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