Left back Douglas Santos revealed that Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti informed the Brazilian national team players about the starting lineup that will face Morocco before they left for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, in his first match with the “Seleção” in the 2026 World Cup.
According to reports from Spanish-speaking media in Switzerland, Ancelotti insisted on maintaining the lineup’s secrecy even from the players themselves, announcing it only before they boarded the bus to the stadium.
The Italian coach surprised everyone in his first World Cup match by choosing Douglas Santos and Reggie Ibanez in the fullback positions, and assigning striker Igor Thiago the role of center forward number 9.
Despite this, the Brazilian national team did not start the match well, drawing 1-1 against Morocco in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.
Douglas Santos (Zenit player) clarified that he had previously worked with coaches who kept the lineup confidential throughout the week “so that everyone is prepared.”
He said, “In the Morocco match, the coach followed this approach, but we all were ready and focused.” He added that this “mystery” gives all players the opportunity to prepare to the fullest, emphasizing that it “never affects” the course of the match.
