Pelé's daughter slams Brazil's football governance after World Cup exit

Brazil's football system has "fundamentally broken down," Pelé's eldest daughter Kely Nascimento said following the Seleção's shock exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, blaming deep-rooted governance failures rather than a lack of talent.

Speaking to Reuters, the filmmaker and daughter of the Brazilian legend said corruption, poor governance and the absence of transparency have created a closed football ecosystem that continues to undermine the country's success on the international stage.

"Brazilian football is broken. Everyone knows why it isn't working, but no one has been able to fix it," she said.

Nascimento stressed that Brazil continues to produce world-class players, but administrative and structural problems within the game have prevented the national team from translating that talent into major tournament success.

Her comments came after Brazil's 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16, marking the country's earliest World Cup elimination since 1990. The five-time champions have now gone 24 years without a World Cup title, having last lifted the trophy in 2002.

Nascimento said her father, Pelé, had long expressed concerns about the direction of Brazilian football and its administration.

Despite her criticism, she pointed to the revival of traditional clubs through foreign investment as a positive sign. She cited Botafogo's transformation under American businessman John Textor, saying greater transparency and accountability could help restore confidence in Brazilian football.

Brazil's campaign began with a draw against Morocco before convincing wins over Haiti and Scotland, but the five-time champions struggled in the knockout stage and were ultimately eliminated by Norway, with Erling Haaland scoring twice.