Brazil is rumored to have fired interim coach Diniz and considered Dorival Junior of Sao Paulo

Fernando Diniz (49) will no longer lead the Brazil national team, according to two sources familiar with the decision on Friday. Sao Paulo coach Dorival Junior (61) is being considered as a potential replacement. 24hscore

Diniz, appointed on an interim basis, held a one-year contract and oversaw Brazil for six games in the 2026 World Cup qualifying round, with two wins, one draw, and three defeats. He balanced this role with his duties at Fluminense, where he secured the Copa Libertadores title last year.

The decision for Diniz’s departure stems from the national team’s performance falling short of expectations, with Brazil currently in sixth place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings. According to one source, Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), thanked Fluminense’s president, Mario Bittencourt, for releasing Diniz at a crucial time for the national team.

Ednaldo Rodrigues personally informed Diniz about the search for a new coach and conveyed that Diniz would no longer be part of the plans once a replacement was found, as part of the president’s strategy to revamp the team’s approach for 2024.

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This year, Carlo Ancelotti was expected to take over by the CBF, but the Italian chose to extend his contract with Real Madrid. The people, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Dorival is now Rodrigues’ top choice to captain the team.

“Ednaldo has already opened talks with the president of Sao Paulo, Julio Casares, to express his interest in Dorival Jr,” according to a second source.

“He clarified that time was of the essence, expressing the urgency to secure Dorival soon due to the imminent start of the season. Julio assured that he would engage in discussions with Dorival, expecting the matter to be resolved by Monday.”

This development occurred a day after Rodrigues reassumed his position at the helm of the CBF, following a decision by Minister Gilmar Mendes of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). This decision reversed Rodrigues’ earlier removal in early December by the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice.