On 14th June, Tite traveled to Rio de Janeiro to talk to the Brazilian football federation about coaching the national team, which had just dismissed Dunga.
Despite being taken for granted as the favourite for the role, Tite claims to have had doubts before saying “yes" to Marco Polo Del Nero. The confirmation came a day later. Tite said: “It was so hard I had no conviction after the initial conversation. I had doubts because of the work and the people inside Corinthians, for whom I have respect and admiration. But at the same time, it was a dream of mine and I thought…. ‘This is my time. Would there be another possibility after? I"ll have a new opportunity?" Coming here [to the headquarters of CBF] and the conversation with president Del Nero were instrumental in the decision. I think I was a bit selfish. I thought, ‘let me fulfill my dream and have on my resume that I was coach of Brazil."
Tite, however, does not hide that he hoped to talk with CBF two years ago, in 2014, after the FIFA World Cup. At the time, the coach had left Corinthians and traveled through Europe talking to coaches. The CBF, however, chose to bring Dunga. Tite added: “The moment post-World Cup was very difficult. The moment Dunga took charge was a time of a very difficult transition [of the national team]. I created this expectation [to be chosen], I was frustrated, but for a short time. After that, I did not imagine being invited."