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

Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he may have made the decisive mistake that contributed to Brazil’s shock exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, revealing he believes the match slipped away during a hydration break against Norway.

Brazil crashed out of the tournament in the last 16 after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Norway, ending their hopes of a record-extending sixth World Cup crown and marking their earliest elimination since 1990.

Reflecting on the defeat in an interview with ESPN, the former Real Madrid manager said his side had been in complete control before the mandatory stoppage midway through the game.

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

“Why? Because until that moment, the team was in control. It’s also true that Norway had a lot of possession in their own half; they played the same way against England.”

The Italian explained that the interruption prompted him to rethink his tactical approach – a decision he now believes backfired.

“During the break, I thought we needed to change something. Maybe that was my mistake. We made changes, lost our rhythm, and after that the game changed.”

Norway capitalised after the restart, with Erling Haaland inspiring a dramatic turnaround to eliminate the five-time world champions. Brazil managed a late consolation through Neymar from the penalty spot, but it was not enough to prevent an early exit.

Hydration breaks were introduced at every match during the 2026 World Cup as part of FIFA’s player welfare measures, with each game featuring mandatory three-minute stoppages in both halves due to concerns over high temperatures across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Despite the disappointment, Ancelotti remains committed to leading Brazil into a new cycle, insisting he has no intention of stepping down as the Seleção begin preparations for the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 World Cup.