The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has officially parted ways with head coach Dorival Júnior following the national team’s devastating 4-1 loss to Argentina in a crucial World Cup qualifying match.
The shocking decision was announced on Friday, merely three days after Brazil suffered one of its heaviest defeats in World Cup qualification history. The humiliating loss sparked intense criticism from fans and analysts, prompting the federation to take immediate action.
In an official statement, the CBF expressed gratitude for Dorival Júnior’s contributions to the national team, acknowledging his efforts in managing the squad since taking over the role. The federation also confirmed that it will immediately commence the search for a suitable replacement to lead the team through the remainder of the qualifying campaign and future tournaments.
Dorival Júnior, 62, took charge of the Brazilian national team in 2023 after the country’s disappointing quarterfinal exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Despite initial optimism surrounding his appointment, his tenure failed to yield significant improvements, leading to his dismissal.
During his time at the helm, Brazil played a total of 16 matches, registering seven wins, seven draws, and two defeats. However, his inability to guide the team past the quarterfinals of Copa América, where Brazil suffered an elimination at the hands of Uruguay, further diminished confidence in his leadership.
Brazil’s defensive struggles under Dorival were particularly concerning, as the team conceded 16 goals in 14 World Cup qualifying matches — the worst defensive record for Brazil in recent qualification campaigns. Additionally, the national team has now lost five of its qualifying matches, putting their automatic qualification for the World Cup at risk.
Currently sitting in fourth place in the South American standings, Brazil finds itself in a precarious position, just one point ahead of Colombia, which occupies the final automatic qualification spot. This uncertainty has fueled speculation about who will be chosen as Dorival’s successor.
The CBF has yet to officially announce a replacement, but reports suggest that Al Hilal’s Jorge Jesus is a strong contender for the role. Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who had previously been linked to the Brazil job, reiterated his commitment to fulfilling his current contract with the Spanish giants.
With World Cup qualifiers set to resume in June, Brazil will next face Ecuador and Paraguay, two critical fixtures that will determine the team’s path toward securing a place in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.