Brazil is intensifying its pursuit of Carlo Ancelotti and Jorge Jesus as they look to finalize a replacement for Dorival Junior before the FIFA Club World Cup.
Following their humiliating 4-1 loss to Argentina in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) dismissed Dorival Junior last week. According to The Athletic, CBF has now narrowed its search to Real Madrid’s Ancelotti and Al-Hilal’s Jesus as potential successors.
The federation is eager to appoint a new head coach before the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on June 14, with crucial World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay scheduled for June 4 and 9. They want the new manager on the sidelines for those matches.
While it seems unlikely that Real Madrid will allow Ancelotti—who is under contract until 2026—to depart before the Club World Cup, Jesus appears more attainable. The Portuguese coach’s deal with Al-Hilal expires after the competition, and he is reportedly interested in taking the job. However, a CBF source told The Athletic that Ancelotti remains “the president’s dream” for the role.
For now, the 65-year-old Italian remains focused on Madrid’s treble pursuit, with the club set to face Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Tuesday.
