On 21 January 2021, Polish Football Association president Zbigniew Boniek announced Sousa as the head coach of the Poland national team; the latter replaced Jerzy Brzęczek, who had been dismissed shortly after in spite of achieving qualification for Euro 2020. In his first match in charge, on 25 March, his side drew 3–3 against Hungary in the 2022 World Cup qualification. At the former tournament finals, and in spite of three goals from star forward Robert Lewandowski, they exited in the group stage; nonetheless, the manager was assured to remain on the job.