Grafite Backs Brazil to Recapture World Cup Glory Under Ancelotti, Drawing 1994 and 2002 Parallels

Former Brazil striker Grafite has backed the Seleção to mount a genuine title challenge at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing the transformative effect of Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment and drawing direct comparisons to the national team’s championship-winning cycles in 1994 and 2002.

Brazil, five-time world champions and the most successful nation in the tournament’s history, open their 2026 campaign against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday. Despite the weight of expectation that traditionally surrounds the Seleção, scepticism has persisted among supporters and sections of the media heading into the competition.

Grafite, who represented Brazil at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and built a distinguished club career in Europe — most notably with Wolfsburg — believes those doubts mirror the atmosphere that existed before Brazil’s two most recent World Cup victories. Speaking via Flashscore, he said: “I am very confident that Brazil can repeat what happened in 1994 and 2002. In both tournaments, there was a certain level of scepticism from supporters and the media because of what had happened in previous cycles.”

Ancelotti, the decorated Italian coach who arrived to take charge of the national side after leaving Real Madrid, has been central to shifting perceptions around the squad. Grafite pointed to the Italian’s pedigree as a key factor in restoring confidence. “The doubts have reduced since Ancelotti arrived. He is a coach with enormous credibility and a winning reputation. His presence gives people confidence,” he said.

Ancelotti’s CV lends weight to that assessment. The 66-year-old has won the UEFA Champions League on five occasions across spells with AC Milan and Real Madrid, making him one of the most decorated coaches in football history. His appointment represented a significant statement of intent from the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol as Brazil sought to end a World Cup drought stretching back to their triumph in 2002.

Interestingly, Grafite noted a divergence in confidence levels between domestic supporters and international observers. “When I speak to journalists in Europe, they often believe in Brazil more than we do. They look at our history, our five World Cup titles and the quality within this new generation of players,” he added.

That new generation includes Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and teenage forward Endrick, all of whom have been prominent at club level in recent seasons. Grafite argued the squad possesses the technical depth and temperament to develop as the tournament advances. “This group has enough quality to grow during the tournament. The talent is there, and that gives me confidence,” he said.

Saturday’s opening fixture against Morocco carries added continental significance. The Atlas Lions, who became the first African nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final at Qatar 2022, arrive in New Jersey under the captaincy of Achraf Hakimi and as the continent’s standard-bearers at the tournament. The match is set to attract widespread attention across Africa, with Morocco’s presence in the group generating considerable interest from fans on the continent.

Should Brazil progress from the group stage, Ancelotti’s side will look to build momentum in the knockout rounds — the phase in which Brazil’s previous champions, including the 1994 and 2002 squads, demonstrated the composure and quality that Grafite believes this generation also possesses.