Brazil Football Confederation to Axe Dorival Júnior After Argentina Loss

Brazil national team manager Dorival Júnior is reportedly set to be sacked by the Brazilian Football Confederation following a dismal loss to Argentina.

Reports are emerging that Dorival Júnior's tenure as Brazil's national team manager is set to come to an abrupt end. According to UOL Esporte, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has decided to relieve Dorival Júnior of his duties, effective immediately.

A meeting scheduled for this Friday between CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues and Dorival Júnior is expected to formalize the coach's departure. As things stand, there is no indication that Dorival Júnior will be given the opportunity to continue in his role, with the CBF seemingly having made up its mind to part ways with the coach following the team's dismal loss to Argentina.

The defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires proved to be the final straw in Dorival Júnior's tenure as Brazil's national team manager. However, the seeds of his downfall were sown almost a year ago during the Copa América. Since then, a process of erosion had been underway, gradually undermining the coach's position.

🚨🇧🇷 Brazilian Federation are set to sack the head coach Dorival Junior with immediate effect, reports @UOLEsporte.

One more final meeting expected to finalize the process. pic.twitter.com/GcOqzWAszv

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 28, 2025

According to UOL Esporte, one of the primary concerns surrounding Dorival Júnior's management was the constant tinkering with the squad's profile. This created a sense of instability, with no discernible core team to build upon. Furthermore, the negative results only exacerbated the issue. Another factor contributing to the CBF's unease was the presence of Dorival Júnior's son, Lucas Silvestre, as his main assistant. This arrangement raised questions about the coach's objectivity and the potential for favoritism.

The CBF had initially attempted to address these concerns by hiring former Brazilian center-back Juan as a counterbalance to Dorival Júnior's ideas. However, with Lucas Silvestre's close proximity to the coach, the organization's leadership realized that this objective had not been achieved. As a result, the CBF's confidence in Dorival Júnior's ability to lead the team effectively had been eroded, ultimately contributing to his impending dismissal.

Succession Plans

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has not yet initiated contact with any potential replacements for Dorival Júnior. Although the organization's preference is to appoint a foreign coach, no official approach has been made. Several high-profile names, including Carlo Ancelotti, Jorge Jesus, and Abel Ferreira, have been mentioned as possible candidates. However, the CBF will only begin the process of selecting a new coach once Dorival Júnior's departure has been formally confirmed.