New Delhi: Brazil head coach Dorival Junior has been terminated from his role, after their humiliating 4-1 loss against arched-rivals Argentina in the World Cup qualifying earlier this week inn Buenos Aires. The 62-year-old was appointed in January 2024, after the team had been led by two caretakers for a year as Brazilian FA failed to get Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti for the job.
The Brazilian confederation confirmed in their statement that Dorival Jr. was not in charge of the team and wished him success in his future endeavours. CBF also confirmed that they are looking at his replacement.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Brazil have sacked Dorival Junior as the nation’s head coach after their humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina. 👋 🇧🇷
(Source: @CBF_Futebol ) pic.twitter.com/o171VlYsnx
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 28, 2025
Dorival was shortlisted after his success with Flamengo, with whom he lifted the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Cup. He had lifted the Brazilian Cup with São Paulo in the following edition. He didn’t look to have the same touch with the national team and never was able to earn the respect and trust of the demanding fans of Brazil, winning only seven times in the 16 games he was in charge of.
Dorival Junior below-par stay was Brazil’s head coach
Following a poor Copa America campaign in 2024, where Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals, the CBF were reportedly looking to take their next step until the World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June. They were looking to reassess following the completion of the European season and the Club World Cup in the US in June and July.
However, Brazil faced their worst loss in a qualifier after Argentina who were without big names like Lionel Messi, the CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues decided to take action. The five-time world champions find themselves in an unfamiliar situation in the last two years, crashing out of the World Cup 2022 against Croatia in penalties in the quarter-finals, which led to the long-time manager Tite make his exit.
Brazil are currently looking at their worst World Cup qualifying campaign, standing fourth in the South American standings with 21 points, a point ahead of the sixth-placed Colombia, who are currently standing in the final place for direct qualification. They have lost five times in 14 games and have conceded 16 times.
Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Argentina in Maracana in 2023 was their first qualifying loss at home. They also lost to Colombia for the first time, saw an unbeaten streak for two decades against Uruguay come to an end and were defeated by both Morocco and Senegal, having never lost to an African country before.
Brazil have sacked coach Dorival Junior after just over one year since his appointment. In the 16 games Dorival led Brazil, the five-time world champions suffered seven losses. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
