More Brazilians support what they reproach the Brazilian team to be led by a foreign technician. This is the first time that rejection has been overcome since Datafolha has been doing research on the subject in 2019. According to the institute, 52% are favorable to a professional from outside Brazil, and 31% are against the Canarinho team not being directed by a professional in the country.
Datafolha heard 2,004 people throughout Brazil, 16 years or older, distributed in 136 municipalities. The survey was conducted on June 10 and 11, 2025. The margin of error is two percentage points for more or less, within the confidence level of 95%.
All respondents were aware of the fact that the national team currently had an Italian as a coach, as Carlo Ancelotti’s name was present in the questionnaire statement. Of the total, 12% declared themselves indifferent, and 5% could not answer.
In recent years there has been a trend of falling rejection, as the latest surveys pointed out. In December 2022, shortly after the Qatar World Cup, when Brazil fell in the quarterfinals, 41% were favorable to hiring a professional from outside, and 48% managed to the idea.
The result had a significant variation in relation to the previous research, conducted in July of the same year, with the same margin of error. At the time, there was 30% in favor and 55% against.
The change in the mood of Brazilians on the subject already reflected failure in the 2022 World Cup and the fall in Tite’s positive assessment, responsible for leading the national team in the last two cups, both with the same performance.
The most recent survey shows that rejection of foreigners has changed more significantly among men, who are more favorable than women, with 61% in favor and 42% in favor of them. In the stratum by gender, the margin of error is three percentage points for more or less.
It is also possible to point out that young people are those who support the most professionals from outside the country in office. Within the age group of 16 to 24 years, 59% are in favor, and 25% are against. In the next track, aged 25 to 44, again 59% are in favor, and 23% are against.
Only 60 years or older is there a technical draw, although favorable still appear numerically ahead, with 41% in favor and 40% against. In the stratum by age, the margin of error is five percentage points for more or less.
There is no significant differences between those who claim to have voted in Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) and Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the last presidential election in 2022. Among the petista voters, 51% are in favor of a foreigner in front of the national team, and 33% declare against. Among those who voted for the former president, 52% are in favor, and 31% reject a technician from outside the country in office.
As the margin of error for this stratum is three percentage points for Lula voters, more or less, and four percentage points for Bolsonaro voters, the numbers are quite similar.
The survey was conducted about a month after the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) announced the hiring of Ancelotti. It has also occurred under the influence of its debut ahead of the team, which took place on the 5th, when Brazil drew with Ecuador 0-0, for the qualifiers.
On the 10th, when the interviews began to be done, the Canarinho team beat Paraguay 1-0 and sealed their classification to the 2026 World Cup after a troubled journey in the qualifying, marked by changing technicians and off -field problems, linked to CBF management turbulence.
Since the last World Cup, at Qatar, when Tite said goodbye to the national team, four technicians have held the position, between staff and interim.
Ramon Menezes, borrowed from the under-20 national team, and Fernando Diniz, divided with Fluminense at the time he commanded the club, took over, unable to deliver the expected results. With the pair, Brazil accumulated five losses, three wins and a draw, with only 37%, one of the worst in history.
Diniz took office in July 2023. The idea of the then CBF president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, was to use the coach as a buffer for a year, waiting for Carlo Ancelotti, still under contract with Real Madrid.
During this period, the leader was the target of his first departure from the presidency. In December 2023, when he resumed his position, he dismissed the coach of Fluminense and, with the Italian renewing his bond with the Spanish team, had to bet on a home solution. Dorival Júnior, at the time in São Paulo, was chosen.
In his period ahead of Brazil, Dorival accumulated 7 wins, 7 draws and 2 losses in 16 matches. His departure was sealed after the disastrous performance against Argentina, with a 4-1 defeat by the qualifiers.
With his position again threatened by court disputes – he was definitely removed in the middle, and Samir Xaud was then elected – Ednaldo again bet on the signing of Ancelotti to try to stay in the presidency. And invested loudly for that. It offered to Italian a contract with a monthly salary of about $ 5 million. The CBF also bet on the wear and tear of his relationship with Real Madrid after a season without titles.
After comings and goings, the coach became, on May 12, the fourth foreign to take over the selection, on the last act of Ednaldo in the presidency – in the day of the presentation of the coach, Xaud was already the president.
In addition to Ancelotti, they make up the list of foreigners who directed the Brazilian team Uruguayan Ramón Platero, Portuguese Joreca and Argentine Filpo Núñez. The trio totals only seven matches in charge of Brazil, with five wins, a draw and one defeat.
