Why Norway disqualifies Brazil from World Cup —Ancelotti
Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti
Abdullateef Fowewe
Brazil national team coach, Carlo Ancelotti has blamed a tactical misread during a mid-game hydration pause for Brazil’s shock 1-2 Round-of-16 defeat to Norway at the 2026 World Cup.
Ancelotti in an interview with ESPN noted that the result marked a painful but formative setback as he begins long-term rebuilding.
Reflecting on Erling Haaland’s two late goals that turned the tie, Ancelotti said the decisive moment came while players paused for drinks.
“I think we lost the World Cup during the hydration break vs Norway.
“Because until that moment, the team was in control. It’s also true that Norway had a lot of possession in their half, they played the same way against England. They controlled the game, and they could’ve won,” said Ancelotti.
Ancelotti, who took charge of Brazil in 2025 and is contracted through 2030, admitted he misread the match’s rhythm when making substitutions after the break.
“That’s where my mistake may have been, thinking that the team had lost control of the game when it hadn’t. I made a few changes to the lineup, and then we had the problem with Erling Haaland’s goal,” he said.
Ancelotti acknowledged Norway’s quality, noting their capacity to “control the game” even when Brazil looked dominant.
