Regardless of how the next few weeks pan out for Brazil, one thing is certain: history will be made.
The Selecao already stand alone at the top of the all-time World Cup winners list with five titles to their name. Having their name etched on the trophy for a sixth time would simply solidify their status as the honorary guardians of the beautiful game.
Anything other than that outcome, however, will see Brazil set a new unwanted record of six consecutive editions of the tournament without success.
It’s quite remarkable to think that 24 years have elapsed since we saw Cafu lead the celebrations in Yokohama after guiding his side to a 2-0 win over Germany.
Since then, it’s been a succession of failures, with some embarrassment thrown in for good measure.
In 2006, a sublime performance by France maestro Zinedine Zidane saw Brazil dumped out in the quarter-finals. Dutch winger Wesley Sneijder was the villain at the same stage four years later in South Africa, netting twice to send Dunga’s men home.
Carlo Ancelotti has been tasked with securing a first World Cup victory for Brazil since 2002
Then there was 2014. The year when everything finally was meant to come together on home soil. Germany obliterated that dream in quite brutal fashion, hitting the host nation for seven in semis. It should have been more.
Belgium were too strong in the last eight in 2018, while Croatia came out on top in a penalty shootout in the quarters once again in Qatar last time around.
Unfortunately, there’s little evidence to suggest Brazil are capable of flipping the script this summer.
Their campaign gets underway against Morocco in New Jersey this evening, before Haiti and Scotland clash hours later.
Progression from Group C shouldn’t be a problem but, then again, this is a team which don’t half make life difficult for themselves.
Six defeats from 18 qualifiers saw then finish fifth in the CONMEBOL standings. In any other year, that would have sent them to a perilous play-off in order secure their spot at the main event.
The introduction of a new-look, 48-team tournament meant fifth place was enough. But only just.
The arrival of five-time European Cup winner Carlo Ancelotti last June was meant to steady the ship but, in truth, everyone is still waiting for an upturn in results and performance.
In the past year, there have been defeats to the same Bolivia side that Scotland skelped 4-0 last weekend, and Japan, who fought back from two goals down to record their first win over the South American heavyweights back in October.
A 1-1 draw with Tunisia at the tail end of 2025 only served to underline the enormity of the challenge facing Ancelotti.
Brazil’s 7-1 hammering at the hands of Germany in 2014 was seen as a national embarrassment
Yes, there have been decent wins over Senegal, Croatia, Panama and Egypt to provide a much-needed morale boost, but it’s been far from vintage stuff.
Defensively, there are serious questions going into this tournament. The withdrawals of Real Madrid star Eder Militao and Roma’s flying machine Wesley through injury have left Brazil badly exposed at right-back.
Danilo — once of Man City and Juventus — is now 35 and plying his trade at Flamengo. Al-Ahly’s Roger Ibanez is serviceable, but nothing more than that.
It’s not much better on the opposite side. Indeed, no fewer than seven players were deployed at left-back during qualifying. Alex Sandro, 35, and Douglas Costa, 32, will battle it out for a starting spot in North America.
Would Andy Robertson or Kieran Tierney get a game in this side? You would think so.
The days of marauding full-backs such as Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Maicon, Marcelo and Dani Alves are seemingly long gone.
It will be interesting to see how the current crop fare against the pace of Morocco this evening. It could offer an insight into what Scotland fans might in a couple of weeks’ time when Ben Gannon-Doak is unleashed.
Obviously, by that stage, Scotland will be vying for top spot after taking maximum points from Haiti and Morocco. There’s always hope…
Ancelotti’s decision to recall veteran Casemiro to his squad following an 18-month absence has given some stability to the midfield, but it’s perhaps asking too much of him to do all the heavy lifting. And, considering the manager’s preference for a 4-2-4 formation, that’s a major concern.
The reason for deploying such an unorthodox system, of course, is that for all Brazil’s problems, they are stacked with talent at the top end of the pitch. In that respect, some things never change.
When fit, 34-year-old attacker can be a difference-maker for Brazil in North America
In Gabriel Martinelli, Raphinha, Vinicius Jr, Matheus Cunha, Endrick and Igor Thiago, Brazil have a wealth of options to choose from. The selection of Neymar raised a few eyebrows, especially given that he is already ruled out of the opening fixture, but there’s no question he still has it in him to turn a game on its head.
And for the neutral, he remains box-office viewing.
The issue comes with fitting them all in. A large part of what has made Ancelotti so successful throughout his career is his ability to keep players happy and pulling in the same direction. Big egos have rarely destabilised an Ancelotti dressing room.
But there’s a difference between club and international football. He doesn’t have a full league season to give everyone a chance. Brazil will play eight games — at best — this summer.
The lack of a top-class No 9 in the ranks is also a worry, albeit that’s been the case for some time now.
Igor Thiago’s breakthrough season at Brentford, in which he found the net 22 times, has propelled him to the forefront of the manager’s thoughts.
Goals against Croatia and Panama earlier this year will have helped his cause for a starting slot. However, while he is the main man in the final third for his club, his job for Brazil is primarily to offer a platform as a focal point to allow the flair players to provide the finishing touches.
That’s not to say it won’t work, but if it doesn’t, is there a reliable Plan B?
Brazil have never been a nation forced to decide whether to prioritise style or substance. They’ve always had both in abundance.
At this moment, however, it’s hard to make a case that they have either.
