Romario Demands Immediate Dismissal of Brazil Coach Ancelotti After World Cup Exit

Brazil's early elimination from the 2026 World Cup after a 2-1 loss to Norway in the round of 16 has sparked intense criticism from football legend Romario. Speaking on his show "Romário TV," the 1994 World Cup winner called for the immediate firing of Brazil's coach Carlo Ancelotti, condemning the defeat as a national embarrassment. Romario stated he would have terminated Ancelotti's contract immediately and bluntly told the coach to "go back to Italy" if he showed up now.

Romario also criticized the Brazilian Football Confederation's decision to extend Ancelotti's contract before the tournament concluded. He compared Ancelotti's tenure unfavorably to previous coaches Dunga, Scolari, and Tite, highlighting the inconsistency in management decisions despite poor results. While acknowledging Ancelotti is not solely to blame, Romario emphasized the coach bears significant responsibility, citing questionable tactical choices such as substituting Bruno Guimarães for Ederson during the match.

The football icon's remarks reflect widespread frustration in Brazil over the team's unexpected World Cup exit and signal growing calls for a change in leadership as the nation processes the disappointing outcome.