Romário demands Brazil sack Carlo Ancelotti after World Cup exit, says coach can fight it in court

Brazil’s 2026 World Cup dream died on July 9 with a 2-1 loss to Norway in the Round of 16. Within hours, one of the most decorated players in the country’s football history was already drafting the eulogy for Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure as head coach.

Romário, the striker who led Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, publicly called for the Italian manager’s immediate dismissal. His message was blunt: there’s no way Ancelotti can continue. And if the coach disagrees, he’s welcome to take it up with a lawyer.

A World Cup exit that stung differently

Losing to Norway, powered by two Erling Haaland goals, while fielding a squad that was supposed to announce Brazil’s return to the elite tier of international football produced the kind of result that gets contracts reviewed.

Romário characterized the defeat as a national “fiasco” and an “embarrassment.” This is a man who scored the goals that won Brazil its fourth World Cup title, and who has spent decades entangled in Brazilian football governance at the highest levels.

His recommendation to the Brazilian Football Confederation, commonly known as the CBF, was straightforward: terminate Ancelotti’s contract immediately. If the coach wants to contest the dismissal, Romário suggested, he can do so through legal channels.

Ancelotti was hired with enormous expectations ahead of the tournament, reportedly signing a deal that could have kept him in charge through 2030.

Why Romário’s voice carries weight here

Romário isn’t just a former player. He’s a former senator who has spent years criticizing Brazilian football’s administrative class. His history of taking on the CBF is well documented, and by suggesting Ancelotti challenge his firing in court rather than simply resign, Romário is implicitly arguing that the CBF should be willing to absorb whatever financial penalty comes with breaking a long-term contract.

What happens next for Brazil’s national program

The CBF now faces a decision that has both sporting and financial dimensions. Keeping Ancelotti means weathering continued public backlash from figures like Romário. Firing him means paying out what is presumably a significant contract buyout on a deal reportedly running to 2030.

When legends of the game start using words like “fiasco” and “embarrassment” while explicitly calling for termination, it creates a political environment where the federation’s leadership has to weigh its own job security against loyalty to the coach.

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