19 June,2026 04:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Carlo Ancelotti (Pic: File Pic)
Brazil is set to clash against Haiti in the FIFA World Cup 2026 match on June 20 at the Philadelphia Stadium in Pennsylvania.
Ahead of the match, head coach Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic that Brazil will showcase a competitive approach against Haiti.
"You don't win the World Cup in the first match. The players' self-criticism was very positive. I think we'll sort out the problems; I remain confident that we'll be competitive," he told the reporters.
The head coach then said that Brazil will enter the clash against Haiti with a few changes to find the right balance.
"We're going to make a few changes. Improve our balance and our play. We can do better, and we have to do better," said Ancelotti.
Speaking about the draw against Morocco, Brazil's head coach feels that the pressure of the campaign's opening match could be a possible reason for the team's poor performance.
"The first half was a bit unexpected; it may be that the pressure of wearing the shirt in the opening match affected the players' mental state a little. Getting off to a good start was important, but it isn't the most important thing. We have to give further opportunities to the players who didn't perform well in the first half against Morocco. No one in our team played at their best. But I don't think the opening matches will determine the final outcome of the World Cup," said the 67-year-old coach.
Ancelotti also dismissed concerns that Brazil lack a defined playing identity under his leadership, arguing that adaptability is one of the team's strengths.
"I don't want a single identity. I want my team to have multiple identities," he said.
On the other hand, the Brazilians will yet again miss the services of their superstar Neymar. The 34-year-old forward is still recovering from his calf injury. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that the 34-year-old will remain in New Jersey to continue the final phase of his rehabilitation and will not travel with the squad to Philadelphia.
(With ANI Inputs)
