Ancelotti says his tactics during water break led to Haaland's goal

Brazil's head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has said that his tactical choices during the water break may have cost his team in their 2026 FIFA World Cup loss to Norway.

In an interview with ESPN that PUNCH Online shared on Thursday, the Italian coach stated that Brazil was in charge before the break, even though Norway had the ball for long periods in their half.

“I think we lost the World Cup during the hydration break against Norway. Until that moment, the team was in control,” Ancelotti said.

He explained that he wrongly thought Brazil had lost control of the game and made several tactical changes in response.

“That’s where my mistake may have been, thinking that the team had lost control of the game when it hadn’t,” he added.

Ancelotti recognized that the substitutions broke Brazil’s flow, allowing Norway to take advantage through Erling Haaland, whose key goal sealed the win and ended Brazil’s chance to win a sixth World Cup title.

While he praised Norway’s disciplined style, the former Real Madrid coach took full responsibility for the loss. He accepted that his tactical changes during the hydration break ended up being very costly.

Haaland’s goal was the turning point of the match, sending Norway to the next round and finishing Brazil’s World Cup journey.