From 1970 to 2026: Brazil’s Presidents still cannot stay away from football

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti faces fierce political backlash following a disastrous World Cup 2026 exit against Norway this summer.

A Bizarre Technological Dig

President Lula da Silva utilized a recent visit to the Mauá Institute of Technology in São Paulo to launch a scathing attack on the Italian tactician. While admiring a student's advanced robotics project, the politician connected the innovation directly to the national team's striking woes.

He jokingly suggested offering the fierce, ball striking robot to Ancelotti comparing the machine's attacking prowess to Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland and claiming it could finally win them the tournament.

Questioning Squad Commitment

The criticism extended far beyond tactical failures on the pitch. Lula expressed sheer disbelief at the squad's post tournament conduct. Despite traveling to the World Cup with a massive delegation, veteran full back Danilo was the only player to return home on the official team flight.

The rest of the Seleção immediately jetted off to other countries for their summer vacations, a move the President branded as a complete disgrace to the shirt.

A History of Presidential Sarcasm

Ancelotti was initially brought in to end a World Cup drought stretching back to 2002 and he holds a contract running until 2030. However, unconvincing performances have made his position incredibly fragile.

Lula has been a consistent critic of the current setup throughout the tournament. He previously made headlines during the group stages by mocking an injured Neymar labeling the forward as the first footballer to successfully implement a work-from-home policy.

When Politicians Tackle Football

Head of state interference is a long standing tradition in South American football. According to historical archives from the Brazilian network Globo, military dictator Emílio Garrastazu Médici famously forced manager João Saldanha out of his job just months before the 1970 World Cup.

Saldanha had publicly refused to call up the president's favorite striker, Dadá Maravilha, infamously telling the media that the president should stick to picking his cabinet ministers while he picked the starting eleven.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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