Carlo Ancelotti is confident his Brazil side are well-placed to achieve success at the World Cup next year in North America, despite an underwhelming qualifying campaign.

The five-time world champions have not won the event since 2002, and have failed to make a final in the five editions that have followed, with the Italian being appointed after his time at Real Madrid ended in May this year.

Ancelotti has steered his side to qualification, but has won only four of his eight matches in charge to far, losing two and drawing two.

Brazil finished fifth in South America's qualifying standings, 10 points behind leaders, and reigning world champions, Argentina.

Nevertheless, Ancelotti, who is taking charge of a national side for the first time, is confident of a strong summer for Brazil in 2026.

"Brazil have fantastic players and we can have a fantastic World Cup," he told TNT Sports.

"It’s a fantastic experience, different job, we have a fantastic goal, to be competitive at the World Cup and to try and win it.

"I love this period but it’s different.

"Maybe I needed this after a lot of years training day by day, and the matches, I have more quiet now and more focus on my team."

Ahead of Friday's draw, Opta's supercomputer hands Brazil a 5.6% of winning the World Cup for a sixth time next summer, behind six other nations.

There are a number of Premier League players in the Brazil squad, with Ancelotti, a title-winning manager in 2010 with Chelsea, while he also enjoyed his time in the competition with Everton, still keeping a keen eye on the league in general.

"I am a fan of the Premier League and Arsenal have started really well and are a fantastic team, a solid team," he said.

"Of course I am a supporter of Arsenal because I have Gabriel Magalhaes, I support Tottenham too because they have Richarlison, and Manchester United, I support the Brazilian players."