Brazil is set to settle on a national team head coach after months of being left in limbo without a permanent coach. Until now, Fernando Diniz was overseeing the Seleção after the federation fired the previous interim coach, Ramon Menezes. Before Menezes, Tite was coach of the Brazil national team for more than six years. He left after a premature exit from the Qatar World Cup in December 2022.
Without a permanent coach, Brazil has been out of form. This is particularly true in World Cup qualification. Since losing to Croatia in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar, Brazil has lost to Morocco and Senegal in friendlies. In their last four games, Brazil drew before losing three games in a row. Each of those four competitions occurred in 2026 World Cup Qualification.
Brazil has fallen to sixth place in the rankings. Considering that more teams will make it to the 2026 World Cup, that is still enough to take the team to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, there are no signs that Brazil will change its form.
That is the task of Dorival Júmior, who is Tite’s likely permanent successor at the head of the Brazil national team. The 61-year-old was coach of Sao Paulo last season. However, his managerial career is expansive. He has had 25 periods as coach of different clubs. Each of them has been to Brazil, meaning the new head coach understands the local country’s system.
Brazil will appoint Dorival Júnior as coach of the national team
There were several coaches from outside Brazil that the federation was considering to replace Tite. For months, Carlo Ancelotti seemed the most likely successor. The Italian’s contract at Real Madrid expired at the end of the 2023/24 season. That would have set them up well for Ancelotti to take over in the summer.
However, Ancelotti signed a contract extension with Real Madrid that keeps him with the Spanish team until 2026. After Ancelotti, Brazil had links with José Mourinho and other Brazilian Serie A coaches. For example, Filipe Luis was a name that was around the Brazil National Team. He teamed at the same time as Dorival Júnior.
Now, the Sao Paulo coach assumes command in Brazil.
A difficult task for the new boss
Dorival Júnior is not assuming a perfect situation in Brazil. Not only is the team not fit in all competitions, but the injury crisis is not doing them any favours. Neymar will be out of the next Copa América after an injury during World Cup qualifying. Casemiro seems not to find a moment of fitness after Manchester United’s dependence on him.
That makes Dorival Júnior’s task with Brazil a great challenge. His first list of competitive matches is the Copa América in the United States. Without a doubt, Brazil is among the favorites to win the competition. However, Júnior will have to show his form in the upcoming friendlies in Brazil. Those aren’t easy games either. Brazil plays England at Wembley Stadium in March. Then, just before the Copa América, the Seleção plays Mexico in preparation for the tournament.
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