Brazilian public anger after 'Sixth Star' video

Ibrahim bin Mohammed

Monday, July 13, 2026, 12:15 | 2 min read

The Brazilian Football Confederation faces an unprecedented storm of criticism, public and media anger after launching an 'optimistic' marketing campaign through a foundation video announcing the start of a 'new cycle' and focusing on the 2030 World Cup, which the sports community considered an attempt to cover up the abject failure following the bitter elimination from the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Norway on July 5.

The confederation's video statement, which carried slogans such as 'In 4 years... get ready for us to be stronger in search of the sixth star,' further inflamed the crisis, especially as it coincided with the rise of the historic rival, the Argentine national team, to the World Cup semi-finals, doubling the bitterness of defeat for fans who accused officials of selling 'empty promises' and hollow marketing speeches.

The attack was not limited to fans but extended to Brazilian football legends, led by the all-time top scorer and 1994 world champion Romário, who launched a violent attack on Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti. Romário harshly criticized the coach's tactical reading, pointing to his late and wrong interventions and substitutions during the match against Norway (2-1), as well as the absence of the classic technical identity of 'Seleção' and its transformation into a sterile European model that loses its innate creativity.

This violent shake-up sheds light on the Brazilian Confederation's controversial decision to secure Ancelotti and extend his contract until 2030 with a huge annual salary estimated at around 10 million euros, just weeks before the start of the current World Cup. The extension aimed to provide stability for a lost technical project that saw 5 coaches succeed each other since the end of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but it has now turned into a 'financial and legal trap' making the dismissal of the Italian coach almost impossible due to the astronomical buyout clause.

Despite the massive waves of anger and fans' sit-ins in front of the confederation's headquarters, reports indicate that the current administration is sticking to the project. The 'Seleção' is scheduled to begin its controversial new journey next September with two friendly matches against Australia, amid charged atmospheres and calls for a comprehensive administrative earthquake to restore the lost prestige of Brazilian football.