Brazil manager Dorival Junior has been sacked after the team were beaten heavily by Argentina in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.
The five-time world champions are fourth in the South American section, 10 points behind their arch-rivals after being thrashed in Buenos Aires but with a healthy cushion as they seek to seal automatic qualification via a top-six finish.
However, there have been five defeats in their 14 matches so far including a 1-0 loss at home to Argentina in November 2023, whilst they have lost away games against Paraguay, Uruguay and Colombia.
NOTA OFICIAL 🇧🇷
A Confederação Brasileira de Futebol informa que o técnico Dorival Júnior não comanda mais a Seleção Brasileira. A direção agradece ao profissional e deseja sucesso na continuidade de sua carreira. A partir de agora, a CBF vai trabalhar em busca do substituto.… pic.twitter.com/CVbTAOaYPQ
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) March 28, 2025
Dorival was appointed in January 2024 and began his reign with a 1-0 friendly win against England at Wembley, but the 62-year-old failed to build on early promise.
The Brazilian Football Confederation said in a statement: “The Brazilian Football Confederation announces that coach Dorival Junior will no longer be in charge of the Brazilian National Team.
“The board thanks the professional and wishes him success in his continued career. From now on, the CBF will work to find a replacement.”
He won just seven of his 16 games in charge, though with a minimum of six places on offer at next summer’s finals for South American sides it would take a huge collapse in the team’s final four fixtures for them to miss out.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has previously been linked with the job and according to reports in Spain could be approached to lead them should they reach the finals.
