SAO PAULO, March 29, 2025: Brazil’s national football coach, Dorival Júnior, was dismissed on Friday after 14 months due to disappointing performances and poor results.
Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues made the decision three days after Brazil suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat against Argentina in Buenos Aires, marking their worst loss in a World Cup qualifier. A successor has yet to be named.
Currently, Brazil sits fifth in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with the top six teams earning automatic qualification.
During his tenure, the 62-year-old Júnior led Brazil to seven wins, seven draws, and two losses, scoring 25 goals while conceding 17. The team’s Copa America campaign ended in the quarterfinals after a penalty shootout defeat to Uruguay.
Rodrigues, who was re-elected on Monday to serve as CBF president until 2030, had initially planned for Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti to take over in 2024. While awaiting Ancelotti, Brazil appointed Fernando Diniz, but he was dismissed in January 2024 after just six matches when Ancelotti extended his contract with Real Madrid.