Romário demands the immediate departure of Ancelotti after Brazil's failure in the 2026 World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO (EFE).– The historic former Brazilian striker Romário called for the immediate dismissal of head coach Carlo Ancelotti following Brazil’s elimination in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the hands of Norway, considering that the Italian coach has no arguments to continue leading the Canarinha.

World champion with Brazil in the 1994 United States World Cup and current senator, Romário stated that he would terminate Ancelotti’s contract, recently renewed until 2030, because the World Cup setback proves that the sporting project lacks a future.

“If I were the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), I would break that contract. There is no way it can continue,” he stated during a broadcast on his channel Romário TV, where he described Brazil’s participation in the tournament as a “fiasco.”

The former goalscorer blamed the Italian coach for the 2-1 defeat against Norway and questioned several of his tactical decisions, especially the substitution of midfielder Bruno Guimarães for Éderson when the team was looking to come from behind.

Likewise, he criticized the composition of the squad and maintained that Ancelotti never managed to imprint a playing identity on the Brazilian national team.

Although he acknowledged that the players also bore part of the responsibility for the elimination, Romário insisted that the change must start with the coaching staff and asserted that Brazil should not begin a new World Cup cycle with the same coach.

The former international also considered that the fact that Ancelotti is a foreigner has moderated the criticism of his management, noting that a Brazilian coach would have already been fired after such a premature elimination.

Romário’s statements add to the questioning from other Brazilian football figures after the five-time world champions were eliminated in the round of 16 for the first time since 1990, also extending their drought without winning a World Cup to 24 years.

Despite the pressure, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has publicly reiterated its support for Carlo Ancelotti and maintains its confidence in the project with a view to the 2030 World Cup.