Brazil Fires Coach Dorival Junior After 4-1 Loss to Argentina in World Cup Qualifiers

The Brazilian national team has officially fired coach Dorival Junior, the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) said on Friday (3/28). This was after the five-time world champions were crushed by a humiliating 1-4 defeat by their arch-rivals, Argentina, in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

The CBF was forced to take the step with Brazil fourth in their CONMEBOL qualifying group, having suffered five defeats in 14 games so far. Dorival took over Brazil in January 2024 and took charge of 16 games during that time, starting with a 1-0 friendly win over England at Wembley.

He went on to record seven wins, six draws and three defeats in those games, with his side scoring 27 goals and conceding 21 in that time. However, after suffering a heavy defeat to Argentina, who had already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup, the CBF quickly announced his dismissal.

“The Brazilian Football Federation announces that coach Dorival Junior will no longer be in charge of the Brazilian national team,” the CBF said as quoted from their official website.

“The Board of Directors thanks the professional and wishes him success in his continued career. From now on, the CBF will work to find his replacement,” he added.

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Dorival was entrusted with the Selecao job after his successful spell with Flamengo in 2022. He won the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Cup, with another trophy the following year with Sao Paulo. However, he seemed unable to cope with the job of Brazil coach and failed to earn the trust of demanding fans after winning just seven of his 16 games in charge.

According to reports, the CBF is starting to waver with Dorival’s work, given that there has been little to no progress since Brazil’s disappointing Copa America campaign when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Uruguay last year. However, the CBF is willing to wait and see until the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June to reassess the situation after the conclusion of the European season and the Club World Cup in the United States in June and July.

But after Brazil suffered their heaviest qualifying defeat to Argentina this week, CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues decided to pull the trigger. Now a number of potential candidates have emerged as Dorival’s replacement. Carlo Ancelotti remains the ideal candidate but he is under contract with Real Madrid until July 2026 and there is no indication he will leave the European and Spanish champions.

Reports from Brazil suggest Al Hilal’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus is the favourite to replace Dorival.