Italian Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of the Brazil national team, captured the attention of fans and cameras alike ahead of Brazil's Round of 16 clash against Norway at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Brazil face Norway in the round of 16 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with the 'Samba' side seeking to record their first-ever victory against Norway.
Ancelotti was caught on television broadcast visibly mouthing the Brazilian national anthem, 'Hino Nacional Brasileiro', word for word and with evident enthusiasm — a moment that sparked widespread reaction across social media platforms.
Since taking charge of Brazil, Ancelotti had set himself a personal goal of learning the full Brazilian national anthem before the tournament kicked off, a step seen as reflecting his respect for the team's history and the country's culture.
Fans widely shared the footage of Ancelotti singing the anthem, viewing his mastery of it as a symbol of his full integration with the squad and his desire to build a strong bond with both players and supporters ahead of the knockout tie against Norway.
Ancelotti is the first permanent foreign coach to lead the Brazil national team, and has achieved solid results with the 'Seleção' since taking on the role, though his biggest challenge remains guiding the team to a record sixth world title.
It is worth noting that the first half of the Brazil–Norway match ended goalless, with Bruno Guimarães missing a penalty in the 14th minute.