There is a history of tension between Tite and Bolsonaro. In 2019, when Brazil won the Copa America and Bolsonaro handed out medals to players and staff, Tite gave the president only a cursory handshake before quickly walking off. Two years later, he was critical of Bolsonaro for insisting that Brazil host the competition again, at short notice, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet Tite insists it’s a matter of principle, saying he wouldn’t celebrate a World Cup win with Lula either.
“My view hasn’t changed,” he said. “I see the Brazilian national team as part of our collective cultural and sporting heritage… It’s such a beautiful thing, it transcends everything… It is our voice as Brazilians.”
