Brazil fires coach Dorival Júnior after worst defeat in World Cup qualifying
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/03/2025 (555 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil coach Dorival Júnior was fired on Friday after 14 months amid poor results and disappointing performances from the national team.
Júnior’s sacking by Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues came three days after a 4-1 defeat to bitter rival Argentina in Buenos Aires, Brazil’s heaviest defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
“The confederation announces that Dorival Júnior’s cycle is over,” Rodrigues told media in Rio de Janeiro. “From now on, we will work in the search for a substitute. Much has been said about (the confederation) contacting A, B or C coach, but I should say that (comment) was never coming from this president or anyone that the president authorized.”
Brazil is fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The top six qualify automatically.
Under the 62-year-old Júnior, Brazil won seven matches, drew another seven, and lost two. But it has won only one of its last four games. The team scored 25 goals and conceded 17.
In the Copa America last year, Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Uruguay on penalties.
Rodrigues was just re-elected on Monday to head the confederation to 2030. In 2023, he bet on Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to take over one year later.
While waiting for Ancelotti, Brazil had under-20 coach Ramon Menezes as an interim then hired Fernando Diniz. Diniz was fired in January 2024 after two wins, one draw and three losses on the job and Ancelotti extended his contract in Spain.
The last time Brazil had three coaches between World Cups was before its latest title in 2002. Luiz Felipe Scolari took the job one year before the tournament in Japan and South Korea.
Local media reported that Rodrigues will make another approach to Ancelotti and that Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is also being considered. Either the Italian or the Portuguese coach would become Brazil’s first ever foreign coach if a deal is reached.
Brazil’s next two South American qualifying matches are in June at second-placed Ecuador and at home against sixth-placed Paraguay.
Ancelotti’s Real Madrid and Jesus’ Al-Hilal are scheduled to play that month in the Club World Cup in the United States.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Related Articles
Guardiola has already made his first selection call for next month's FA Cup semifinal
Advertisement Advertise With Us
Advertisement Advertise With Us