RIO DE JANEIRO – Dorival Junior has vowed to turn around the fortunes of Brazil after a run of poor results in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The former Sao Paulo coach was unveiled on Jan 11 as the new boss of his national side, signing a contract until December 2026 and takes over following the sacking of interim boss Fernando Diniz.
“Today I am here representing the most winning team on the planet, the one that inspires many around the world. And it has the obligation to win again,” the 61-year-old told a press conference.
“Our moment is difficult. But nothing that is impossible to reverse quickly.”
The five-time world champions, by their high standards, have been going through a turbulent period since being knocked out from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the quarter-finals. That loss on penalties to Croatia led to the departure of coach Tite.
Brazil were then guided by Under-20 coach Ramon Menezes before the interim appointment of Diniz in 2023.
They have lost three of their six qualifiers to date, winning only two matches. They are sixth in the standings, trailing leaders and World Cup holders Argentina by eight points.
The top six will qualify automatically for the 2026 global showpiece, while the team finishing in seventh will go into an intercontinental play-off, which Brazil would hope to avoid.
Dorival emerged as the leading candidate for the job after Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti extended his contract with Real Madrid following failed negotiations to manage the South American side.
“There is no one to blame. There is no interference, there is nothing like that. What we need from now on is to look for solutions,” the new coach added.
“We need to deliver a reliable national team, one that gives us all credibility. Brazilian football is very strong, it reinvents itself. It cannot go through the moment it is going through. Let it serve as a lesson, so we can find a new way forward.”
Dorival’s first match in charge will be a friendly against England at Wembley on March 23. REUTERS
