Brazil lost World Cup during hydration break — Ancelotti

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Brazil’s Italian head coach Carlo Ancelotti speaks during a press conference at the Granja Comary training center in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 30, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP)

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By Adegboyega Adeleye

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Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that a tactical decision he made during the second-half hydration break in his side’s Round of 16 defeat to Norway proved decisive in the Selecao’s shock exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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Brazil were level at 0-0 when play was paused for the mandatory cooling break, but the five-time champions went on to concede twice to Erling Haaland before crashing out 2-1 — their earliest World Cup elimination since 1990.

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Reflecting on the defeat in an interview with ESPN, Ancelotti took responsibility for the tactical changes he made during the break.

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“I think we lost the World Cup during the hydration break against Norway,” Ancelotti said.

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“Why? Because, up until then, the team had been in control.”

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The Italian explained that he mistakenly believed Brazil had lost control of the contest and altered his team’s shape, a decision he now regrets.

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“That’s where my mistake may have been — thinking the team had lost control of the match when they hadn’t. I made a few changes to the team, and then we had the problem with Erling Haaland’s goal.”

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“And then, in a World Cup, when you concede a goal in the 30th minute (of the second half), it’s very difficult to come back from that.”

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FIFA introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half at the expanded 2026 World Cup, allowing players to cool down while allowing coaches to deliver tactical instructions.

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Despite Ancelotti’s admission, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, maintained during the tournament that the cooling breaks did not disrupt matches or influence results.

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Brazil had opportunities to seize control before Norway’s late surge, with Bruno Guimaraes seeing an early penalty saved before substitute Endrick squandered a one-on-one chance just after the hour mark.

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Ancelotti, however, reserved praise for Norway, who reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time before eventually losing 2-1 after extra time to England.

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“It’s also true that Norway had a lot of possession in their half; they played the same way against England,” he said.

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“They controlled the game, and they could’ve won.”

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