The Brazil squad arrived in the US to an extraordinary welcome, greeted by a rainbow at Newark Liberty International Airport just days before the much-anticipated 2026 World Cup gets underway.

Under Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, the team enters this tournament with both hope and trepidation, aiming to secure a record-extending sixth World Cup title after a 24-year drought.

However, the squad appears to have flaws compared to Brazil World Cup teams of old, filled with uncertainties and questions. Ancelotti's controversial late call-up of 34-year-old Neymar has raised eyebrows, especially as the midfielder battles a grade-two calf injury that could sideline him for two to three weeks. Yet, the Italian tactician remains optimistic, believing Neymar could be fit for Brazil's opening Group C match against Morocco on June 13, followed by encounters with Haiti and Scotland.

In a testament to continuity, Ancelotti has included 15 players from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the highest number of returnees in Brazil's storied history. Despite the squad's rocky road through CONMEBOL qualifying, where they finished fifth, the expectations surrounding the Samba Boys remain sky-high.

66-year-old Ancelotti, a seasoned coach who has won league titles in all of Europe's top five leagues, insists that the goal is straightforward: "Compete with the other rivals, try to do our best, and work hard. The expectation is the same as always from everyone in Brazil." He acknowledges the absence of a clear favorite in this edition of the World Cup, noting, "There are stronger teams, but I believe that Brazil will compete with all the other squads."