Ancelotti arrives in Brazil to take over as head coach of the national team

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Carlo Ancelotti wore a Brazil national team cap when he arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday on the eve of his formal introduction as head coach. He is the first foreigner to coach the five-time World Cup winners full-time in a century.

The 65-year-old Italian, who arrived in Brazil just before 9 p.m. local time with several family members and his coaching staff, will also announce his squad Monday for two South American World Cup qualifying matches next month against Ecuador and Paraguay.

Ancelotti arrived hours after Samir Xaud was elected for a four-year term as president of the Brazilian soccer confederation. Sunday's election marked the end of a tumultuous process, mired in legal procedures that removed Ednaldo Rodrigues as CBF president. It was Rodrigues who hired Ancelotti from Real Madrid.

There was no organized reception for Ancelotti; only one fan wearing a Brazil shirt saw Ancelotti leave Rio’s international airport after his arrival on a private jet.

He will find more local warmth at the hotel where he's set to give his first news conference as Brazil coach on Monday.

Some fans who were casually wearing Brazil's shirt at the airport said they're optimistic about the team's chances under the new coach.

Before Ancelotti, Brazil caretaker coaches Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz failed to bring good results and performances, and Dorival Júnior was fired in March after a 4-1 defeat at Argentina.

Ancelotti, whose contract with Brazil runs through the next World Cup, is expected to meet the CBF leadership before facing the domestic media.

“We can't trust Neymar, we can't trust the CBF, but Ancelotti does bring us hope,” said Flávio Mileny, a fan from the city of Belem visiting Rio and wearing Brazil's blue shirt. “Even if he doesn't bring the World Cup next year, hopefully he will stay on to win the next. He has won it all, it is a great beat that Brazil is making now.”

Eliane Salieri, who was wearing a Brazil national team jacket, said it was time for a foreigner to come in as head coach.

“I would have preferred Jorge Jesus, who coached Flamengo and won many titles here,” Salieri said in a reference to the Portuguese manager who was recently fired from Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal. “But this guy Ancelotti is great, he was won everything. Everyone will respect him.”

Xaud didn't face any challengers in his bid for the CBF president's job, despite the fact he has never run a soccer body in his career. He comes from the Amazon state of Roraima, bordering Venezuela, with only 10 clubs under its helm — none of them in top divisions.

Xaud's father has run the local soccer federation for four decades, and he was expected to take over next year. Though he had support from local state federations, which are key in the election, the vast majority of Brazil's top-flight clubs refused to send representatives to the confederation's headquarters to give support to the new president.

Xaud told journalists that Ancelotti “will have full autonomy” and “will be shielded from any possible external situation," in a reference to the confederation's legal woes and internal fighting.

Rodrigues, who was elected in 2022 and had been re-elected for a second term, was removed from the position by a Rio judge's decision due to alleged irregularities in the election process a year earlier.

Rodrigues gave up on any appeals and wished Xaud luck in his term.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Brazil's new national soccer team head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, arrives at the international airport in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Brazil's new national soccer team head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, arrives at the international airport in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Brazil's new national soccer team head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, arrives at the international airport in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti is tossed into the air by his players after defeating Real Sociedad at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match, at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Cesar Cebolla)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)