Ecuador vs Brazil

Carlo Ancelotti will make his debut as Brazil's head coach when the Selecao face Ecuador in Guayaquil on Thursday evening.

The ex-Real Madrid manager steps in after Dorival Junior’s dismissal following a 4-1 loss to Argentina in March’s qualifiers. Brazil, however, remain secure in the top six, ensuring no immediate concerns about missing the World Cup finals.

Ancelotti faces immediate pressure to deliver wins and an appealing style of play, given Brazil’s lackluster qualifying campaign so far. Despite a six-point cushion over Venezuela for a top-six spot, Brazil’s position would have been precarious without the expanded World Cup format, which has kept them safe from missing their first-ever finals.

The heavy defeat to rivals Argentina sealed Dorival’s fate, but his tenure left Brazil in a relatively stable position. After earning 11 points from a possible 15 before the Argentina loss, Brazil are nearly assured of a spot in next summer’s tournament, giving Ancelotti room to implement his vision without intense focus on immediate results.

Brazil previously defeated Ecuador 1-0 in September, with Rodrygo scoring the lone goal, despite Ecuador’s strong form. Ecuador, under Sebastian Beccacece, have been impressive, sitting second behind Argentina despite a three-point deduction at the start of qualifying. They’ve earned 26 points from 14 matches, remaining unbeaten at home with 17 points from seven games and conceding just two goals.

Only Colombia and Paraguay have avoided defeat in Ecuador, both securing 0-0 draws. Ecuador’s only losses in qualifying came against Brazil and Argentina, and with both teams still to visit, their home record will face a stern test. A recent 0-0 draw against Chile ended their three-game winning streak, but Ecuador are on track to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup.