Brazil
Brazil arrive as five-time champions and the only nation present at every edition of the tournament — 22 in a row. After the 2022 quarter-final shock against Croatia, the federation made a historic move: Carlo Ancelotti became the first foreign manager in Seleção history. The Italian inherits a squad bursting with attacking talent: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Rodrygo, Endrick, and Raphinha. Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães anchor the midfield. Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland looks straightforward, but Brazil cannot ignore Morocco — the 2022 semi-finalists who proved African football has closed the gap. The expectation is hexa: a sixth title, the one missing trophy of the modern Brazilian narrative.