Brazil sack head coach Dorival Jr after humiliating loss to Argentina

Brazil’s football federation (CBF) has dismissed head coach Dorival Jr following a crushing 4-1 defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires, marking one of the nation's most humiliating qualifying losses. The 62-year-old, appointed in January 2024, took charge after the team had spent a year under interim coaches, as the CBF failed to secure Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid.

"The Brazilian Football Confederation informs that coach Dorival Jr is no longer in charge of the Brazilian national team," the federation announced in a statement. "The management thanks (Dorival) and wishes him success in continuing his career ... the CBF will work to find his replacement."

Dorival’s appointment came after his successful stints with Flamengo and Sao Paulo, where he won the Copa Libertadores and multiple domestic trophies. However, he struggled to gain the confidence of Brazil’s demanding fanbase, winning just seven of his 16 matches in charge.

Sources told Reuters that the CBF was already skeptical of Dorival’s progress, particularly after Brazil’s disappointing Copa America exit at the hands of Uruguay in the quarter-finals last year. While the federation initially planned to evaluate his position after the June 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay, the historic defeat to Argentina prompted CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues to act swiftly.

Despite Ancelotti still being considered the top target, his contract with Real Madrid runs until July 2026, making his departure unlikely. Brazilian media reports suggest that Al Hilal’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Dorival.

Brazil’s struggles have persisted since their heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final exit to Croatia in 2022, which led to the departure of longtime coach Tite. Under a combination of caretaker managers and Dorival, the team has endured its worst-ever World Cup qualifying campaign, setting several unwanted records. Brazil currently sit fourth in the South American standings with 21 points, just one ahead of sixth-placed Colombia, who occupy the final automatic qualification spot.

This campaign has seen Brazil lose five of their 14 qualifiers while conceding 16 goals—unprecedented figures in their history. Their 1-0 home defeat to Argentina in 2023 marked their first-ever World Cup qualifying loss on Brazilian soil. They also suffered a historic loss to Colombia, saw their decades-long unbeaten streak against Uruguay broken, and recorded defeats to Morocco and Senegal—nations they had never previously lost to.

SportsLigue