Brazil Keeps Ancelotti Through 2030 World Cup After 2-1 Loss to Norway

Q: Is Brazil's shocking World Cup exit a story of their own decline or the historic rise of Haaland's Norway?

It was both, but more immediately a story of Norway’s rise exposing Brazil’s unresolved weaknesses. Norway did not win by accident. This was their first knockout victory at a major tournament and a landmark moment for a team that has finally converted promise into results. Erling Haaland’s two goals against Brazil took him to seven for the tournament, level with the Golden Boot leaders, and underlined how decisive he has become for a side that also features Martin Ødegaard and arrived in this World Cup after an unbeaten qualifying campaign. Norway had already beaten Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, so the Brazil result fits a broader pattern rather than a one-off upset. At the same time, Brazil’s exit cannot be separated from a longer decline in tournament standards. This was their earliest World Cup elimination since 1990 and their worst overall showing since 1966. They came into the tournament after a difficult qualifying cycle, a low FIFA ranking by their standards, and a run of knockout failures against European opponents stretching back to 2002. Against Norway, Brazil again showed the problem: they created chances but wasted them, including a missed penalty, and paid for it. That is why the CBF’s backing of Carlo Ancelotti matters. Brazil do not appear to see this as a single bad night, but as part of a rebuilding process after years of instability. Norway made history, but Brazil’s shock was also rooted in a long erosion of their old aura.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 6

Brazil's Football Confederation said the team's round-of-16 exit will not alter plans to keep Carlo Ancelotti through the 2030 World Cup.
Rodrigo Caetano said the CBF wants the cycle to proceed "normally" with adjustments, arguing the team needs calm after Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Norway.
Ancelotti, 67, took charge in May 2025 and signed an extension in May, but Brazil have now posted their worst World Cup showing since a 1966 group-stage elimination.
Marquinhos apologized to fans after the loss and said Brazil were punished for missed chances, while Ancelotti and the CBF cast the defeat as the start of a new cycle.