2026 World Championship – Ruthless to Coaches: Positions Opened Up in a Quarter of Teams

2026-07-08 23:15 © AFP

The 2026 World Cup has not yet concluded, but it can already be said that it has been merciless to the national team coaches.

13 coaches lost their jobs, and a total of 12 head coach positions have become vacant – exactly a quarter of the teams made tough decisions.

The numbers do not align because Tunisia dismissed the Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi after the first match, and the two-match hire Hervé Renard also said goodbye to this North African team.

Among the teams that reached the Round of 16, changes were made by Portugal and Mexico. The latter will start a new long-term project with former legendary center-back Rafael Márquez, while Robert Martínez will be replaced by Jorge Jesus, a former European champion.

Some teams unexpectedly did not make it past the group stage barrier – South Korea, Scotland, the Czech Republic, and Uruguay, who dismissed Marcelo Bielsa.

The era in the Croatian national team has ended. Zlatko Dalić, who led the team for nearly 10 years, has stepped down from the head coach position.

In addition to the mentioned teams, changes are also planned by Algeria, Ghana, Ecuador, and the Netherlands – teams that have also said goodbye to their coaches.

According to rumors, France will part ways with Didier Deschamps after the championship, so the number 12 may not be the end.