Ancelotti: Brazil 'on the right track' for the World Cup despite Tunisia draw

Carlo Ancelotti believes his Brazil team are on the right track for a successful campaign at next summer's World Cup despite their disappointing 1-1 draw against Tunisia.

Ancelotti watched on as Hazem Mastouri's 23rd-minute strike handed Tunisia a shock lead at Stade Pierre-Mauroy before Estevao restored parity with a penalty before the break.

Brazil were handed a huge chance to seal the win when Ferjani Sassi fouled Vitor Roque inside the box, but Lucas Paqueta blazed over Aymen Dahmen's net from 12 yards.

Estevao then struck the post with almost the last kick of the game, but Tunisia were able to hold on as Ancelotti endured another frustrating encounter early in his Brazil tenure.

Ancelotti's frustrations will come from his team's lack of clinical edge in the final third, having registered an expected goals (xG) total of 2.61 from their 22 attempts, only three of which were on target, compared to Tunisia's 0.58 from their seven shots.

Since winning their fifth World Cup title in 2002, Brazil's highest finish at FIFA's flagship tournament came in 2014, when they reached the semi-finals, which was followed by back-to-back quarter-final defeats in Russia and Qatar. 

Despite picking up just four wins from his first eight matches at the helm, Ancelotti remains confident his players will perform in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.

"We're on the right track to reach our best level at the World Cup," the former Real Madrid boss told reporters.

"We played a very good match against Senegal [last week] and today it was a much more difficult match against Tunisia.

"Tunisia has different characteristics – they defend with a very deep block. It's much more difficult to find openings in this type of defence."

Brazil's latest stalemate followed an impressive 2-0 victory over Senegal at Emirates Stadium, a result that was overshadowed by an injury to Gabriel Magalhaes, with reports suggesting the Arsenal defender could be sidelined for up to two months.

In-form Chelsea star Estevao opened the scoring in that game. Indeed, he has scored five of Brazil's last 13 goals, with no other player netting more than two in this period.

The 18-year-old has certainly put his name forward for a spot in Ancelotti's World Cup squad, but plenty of players were left out for the final international break of 2025.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli and Newcastle United's Joelinton were all absent through injury, while Ancelotti has given leading goalscorer Neymar a six-month timeline to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup. 

Raphinha was also unavailable while Endrick is yet to feature under Ancelotti despite playing under him at Madrid last season, but the Italian coach was not giving anything away about which players are firmly within his plans for next summer.

"Many players are right on the list. Some are missing, but the list is quite complete. There are two friendlies left, but six months of games where anything can happen," he said.

"The schedule is very demanding and the risk of injury is very high. So, I think the team and the environment are on the right track to reach the highest level at the World Cup.

"I have a lot of confidence in this team and these players, above all in this environment, which is good.

"The players are serious, they are professionals, they are patriots, they have a lot of affection for the shirt, and that is very important."