Six World Cup coaches exit after 2026 tournament as pressure mounts on international managers
Six national team coaches have had their tenures ended during or immediately after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighting how the tournament serves as football's ultimate managerial examination where years of preparation can be judged in just a few matches.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman resigned after his team's penalty shootout loss to Morocco, taking responsibility for falling short of Dutch ambitions. South Korea's Hong Myung-bo stepped down following a Round of 32 exit to Brazil, noting that merely qualifying is no longer sufficient for Korean ambitions. Scotland's Steve Clarke resigned despite having renewed his contract until the next World Cup less than a year prior, after a group-stage exit ended the Scots' campaign prematurely.
Czechia's Miroslav Koubek resigned after just seven months in charge following a winless group stage, having only taken the role to secure qualification after a 20-year absence. Tunisia's Sabri Lamouchi was dismissed after only five games and a devastating 5-1 opening loss to Sweden, showing how quickly tournaments can end tenures. Ecuador's Sebastián Beccacece resigned after a Round of 32 loss to Mexico, stating the team failed to achieve their goal of "the best World Cup ever."
These departures - some voluntary resignations, some dismissals - illustrate football's unforgiving reality where managers' legacies can hinge on short tournament performances rather than longer-term progress.