November 15, 2026
Former Brazilian star Romario escalated his criticism of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, calling on the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Samir Choud, to immediately dismiss him from his position, in the wake of the Seleção’s 3-2 loss to its Japanese counterpart in a friendly match hosted by Singapore on Saturday.
Through his official account on social media, the 1994 World Cup winner sent a harsh message to Ancelotti, in which he said: “Ancelotti, it’s over! Gather your things and leave! No one doubts your history. You are one of the greatest coaches, but you have only proven that at club level. As for the Brazilian national team, you have not yet shown that you are up to the task. We are tired!”
According to what was reported by the “Gol” website, Romario did not stop at attacking the Italian coach, but also called on the president of the Brazilian Federation to take decisive steps, addressing him by saying: “You are young and Brazilian and you want the best for our football, but it is time to show courage and make a decision. Say hello to Ancelotti! The Brazilian national team shirt is not something that can be taken lightly, and we cannot risk wasting another World Cup. It is time to act now.”
These sharp criticisms came after Brazil’s stumble against Japan in a confrontation characterized by rivalry and fluctuations. The Japanese national team scored two early goals through Takefusa Kubo and Keto Nakamura during the first 19 minutes, before Vinicius Junior succeeded in reducing the difference in the 33rd minute, then equalizing in the 75th minute.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto snatched the fatal winning goal for Japan, amid loud protests from Brazilian players demanding that a previous violation be counted for the start of the attack. The last moments of the match witnessed the expulsion of both coach Carlo Ancelotti and winger Rafinha due to their objection to the decisions of the refereeing team.
It is noteworthy that Romario had previously called for Ancelotti’s dismissal last July, following the Brazilian team’s exit from the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Norway, as he described the performance at the time as a “disgrace.” Despite his acknowledgment of the great achievements achieved by the Italian coach with the clubs, Romario insists that Ancelotti has failed to prove his competence at the head of the technical management of the Brazilian national team, warning of the consequences of continuing with the status quo before it is too late.
