Pressure Mounts on Dorival Júnior as Brazil’s Coaching Future Uncertain

The heat is back on Dorival Júnior after Brazil suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against arch-rivals Argentina in World Cup qualifying. The result has reignited debate in Brazil about the future of the national team’s head coach.

Vinícius Júnior did not hold back, calling for urgent change: "We need to rethink everything. Changes are necessary. I've already lost one World Cup and I don’t want to lose another."

According to multiple Brazilian media outlets, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is increasingly open to replacing Dorival, though any final decision is expected to come after Brazil’s upcoming qualifiers in June against Ecuador and Paraguay.

The list of potential successors includes former players and top coaches such as Filipe Luís, Jorge Jesus, and Abel Ferreira. Behind the scenes, CBF is also exploring ambitious moves for European heavyweights like Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola.

Following Brazil’s early exit from the Copa América last July, CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues had publicly backed Dorival, emphasizing the importance of stability ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. But after a string of underwhelming performances, patience appears to be wearing thin.

Meanwhile, the UEFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign is just getting underway. Fixtures, results, and tables can be found on our dedicated coverage page.