Brazil’s defeat to Argentina was historic as it marked their first home loss in nearly 20 years against Lionel Messi’s national team. Their last defeat came on June 8, 2005. The result highlighted Argentina’s strong form and exposed Brazil’s ongoing struggles. Key players like Raphinha and Vinicius Jr. faced heavy criticism after being thoroughly outplayed. In the aftermath, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation has made a drastic decision.
“The Brazilian Soccer Confederation informs that coach Dorival Junior is no longer in charge of the Brazilian national team. The management thanks the professional and wishes him success in continuing his career. From now on, the CBF will work to find his replacement,” informed CBF on their website.
Also, Rodrigo Mattos from UOL reported that Lionel Scaloni’s tactical dominance over Dorival played a key role. It ultimately convinced CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues to make the bold decision. Besides, several months into his tenure, Dorival Jr. has failed to give the team a clear game identity. This has drawn heavy criticism from Brazilian fans, especially considering the talent at his disposal.
With world-class players like Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, and Bruno Guimaraes, the lack of a defined playing style has become a major concern. On top of that, Brazil have won just two of its last five matches in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.
Luiz Henrique hugs Dorival Junior, Head Coach of Brazil after the FIFA World Cup 2026 South American Qualifier match between Brazil and Peru at Arena BRB Mané Garrincha on October 15, 2024 in Brasilia, Brazil.
Is this Carlo Ancelotti’s chance to become Brazil’s national team coach?
A few days ago, Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario claimed that the CBF had entered negotiations to hire Carlo Ancelotti. He even said he was personally involved in the process. According to Ronaldo, Real Madrid blocked the move by refusing to release their coach. However, Ancelotti has publicly disagreed with the Brazilian icon’s version of events.
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“I appreciate Brazil but there was NO contact at all between the Federation and myself in the recent days. My full focus is on Real Madrid…I’m under contract at Real Madrid and my focus is on winning titles. We have important targets now,” stated Carlo Ancelotti as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
While some reports suggest negotiations took place, others firmly deny any contact. This all but rules out the possibility of Carlo Ancelotti becoming Brazil’s next head coach, at least in the short term. The likely candidate will follow the pattern of recent appointments like Fernando Diniz, Ramon Menezes, Tite, and Dunga. What do they all have in common? They are Brazilian.
Who is the most likely candidate to coach the Brazilian national team?
According to Brazilian journalist Pedro Ivo Almeida of ESPN, Jorge Jesus is the leading candidate to take over the national team. However, he is currently under contract with Al-Hilal, Neymar Jr.’s former club. Pedro Almeida reports that Al-Hilal’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup could be a key factor in the timeline. As a result, Jorge Jesus may not take charge until after the tournament.
It does not guarantee Jorge Jesus will become Brazil’s next head coach. He is under contract with Al-Hilal until 2026, having renewed his deal in May 2024. Given his success at the club, including multiple titles, negotiating his release will not be easy.
