Sacking Confirmed:: The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced Dorival Júnior's departure on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Trigger Event:: The final straw was the humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires, Brazil's heaviest ever loss in World Cup qualifying.
Performance Record:: Dorival Júnior was in charge for just over a year (since January 2024), managing 16 games with a record of 7 wins, 6 draws, and 3 losses.
Qualifying Struggles:: Brazil sits fourth in the South American qualifying group, having lost an unprecedented five matches out of 14 so far, though they are still positioned to qualify.
Replacement Search:: The CBF is now searching for a new manager. Al-Hilal's Jorge Jesus is rumoured to be a favourite, while Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti remains linked despite his contract.
Why this matters:: This sacking highlights a period of significant instability and underperformance for the five-time World Cup winners, marking one of the lowest points in their recent history and raising concerns about their readiness for the 2026 tournament.
Dorival Júnior, 62, took the helm in January 2024, tasked with stabilizing the team after the departure of Tite following the 2022 World Cup and the CBF's failure to secure Carlo Ancelotti. Dorival had recent club success, winning the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo in 2022 and the Brazilian Cup with São Paulo in 2023.
His tenure started promisingly with a 1-0 friendly win against England at Wembley. However, the team struggled for consistency. They had a disappointing Copa América campaign, being eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals via penalties.
The World Cup qualifying campaign has been particularly troubling. Brazil has suffered historic setbacks, including their first-ever home qualifying loss (against Argentina in late 2023) and defeats to Colombia and Uruguay, ending long unbeaten streaks. They have conceded 16 goals in 14 games.
The 4-1 loss to an Argentina side missing Lionel Messi proved decisive. Despite boasting talents like Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, Brazil managed only one shot on target in that match. The CBF acted swiftly after the defeat, ending Dorival's tenure.
The search for a successor is now underway, with pressure mounting on the CBF to find the right leader to guide Brazil through the remainder of the qualifiers and prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
Why exactly was Dorival Júnior fired?
The primary reason was the heavy 4-1 defeat to rivals Argentina, coupled with Brazil's overall poor performance and results during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, which is considered their worst ever.
Who is likely to be the next Brazil coach?
Reports suggest Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus (currently at Al-Hilal) is a leading candidate. Carlo Ancelotti's name continues to be mentioned, but he has affirmed his commitment to Real Madrid.
Brazil's national team is in a period of significant flux and facing unprecedented challenges in qualifying.
The pressure is high on the CBF to appoint a manager who can quickly turn results around and restore confidence.
Fans will be watching closely to see how the team responds in their upcoming qualifiers in June against Ecuador and Paraguay.
This situation underscores the intense scrutiny and expectations surrounding the Brazilian national team.
Brazil faces a tough road ahead to regain their dominant form. Can they turn things around before the 2026 World Cup?
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