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The emotional aftermath of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has continued to reshape international football, with no fewer than 17 national team coaches leaving their positions following the conclusion of the tournament.

For some, the decision marked the end of remarkable eras built over several years, while for others, the disappointment of failing to meet expectations proved too difficult to overcome. A number of coaches chose to resign, others saw their contracts expire without renewal, while some were dismissed as their football associations looked to begin a new chapter.International Sports Competitions

The latest casualty is Belgium manager Rudi Garcia, whose departure was confirmed on Monday after the Royal Belgian Football Association announced it would not renew his contract, which expires on July 31.

Garcia guided Belgium to the quarter-finals, where the Red Devils were eliminated by eventual champions Spain, who went on to edge Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s final.

His exit adds to a growing list of high-profile managerial changes that have followed the tournament, reflecting the enormous expectations and pressure attached to coaching at the highest level of international football.

Among the biggest departures is France’s Didier Deschamps, who brought an end to his remarkable 14-year reign after leading Les Bleus through one of the most successful periods in their history.

Portugal’s Roberto Martínez also stepped down after his side’s Round of 16 defeat to Spain, while Croatia’s Zlatko Dalić ended his nine-year spell after his team’s Round of 32 elimination.

Mexico’s Javier Aguirre resigned after England knocked his side out in the Round of 16, while Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman departed following the Dutch team’s Round of 32 exit.

Marcelo Bielsa also stepped aside after their respective World Cup campaigns, as Scotland’s Steve Clarke and South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo resigned after failing to achieve their tournament objectives.International Sports Competitions

Tunisia dismissed Sabri Lamouchi after a crushing 5-1 defeat in their opening match, Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann also departed following disappointing campaigns that fell short of expectations while Czechia’s Miroslav Koubek resigned following his country’s group-stage exit

Senegal parted ways with Pape Thiaw after terminating his contract, while Carlos Queiroz left Ghana after the Black Stars were eliminated in the Round of 32.

The full list of coaches who have left their national teams after the 2026 FIFA World Cup includes:

Didier Deschamps (France)

Roberto Martínez (Portugal)

Zlatko Dalić (Croatia)

Javier Aguirre (Mexico)

Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)

Sebastián Beccacece (Ecuador)

Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay)

Steve Clarke (Scotland)

Hong Myung-bo (South Korea)

Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia)

Miroslav Koubek (Czechia)

Pape Thiaw (Senegal)

Rudi Garcia (Belgium)

Carlos Queiroz (Ghana)

Jamal Sellami (Jordan)

Vladimir Petković (Algeria)

Julian Nagelsmann (Germany)

The wave of departures underlines the harsh realities of international football, where even experienced coaches often pay the price for underwhelming performances. With qualification campaigns for future tournaments already on the horizon, many football federations are expected to begin rebuilding under new leadership in the coming months.

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Spain midfielder Rodri was crowned the Player of the Tournament after inspiring his country to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, capping a remarkable campaign with another prestigious individual honour.

The Manchester City star received the Golden Ball following Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, where Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal to hand La Roja their second world title.

Rodri, widely regarded as the heartbeat of the Spanish team, controlled matches throughout the tournament with his composure, vision and leadership, playing a pivotal role in Spain’s unbeaten run to the trophy.

The award adds to an already glittering career for the 30-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or, the UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles, the European Championship and now the FIFA World Cup, further cementing his place among the finest midfielders of his generation.

Spain also swept two other major individual awards at the tournament.

Goalkeeper Unai Simón claimed the Golden Glove after an outstanding campaign between the posts. The Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper kept seven clean sheets and conceded just one goal throughout the tournament, producing a series of crucial saves that underpinned Spain’s march to the title.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí was named the Young Player of the Tournament following a series of composed and commanding performances in defence. The Barcelona centre-back emerged as one of the breakout stars of the competition, earning widespread praise for his maturity, confidence and consistency despite his age.

Spain’s clean sweep of the tournament’s top individual honours underlined the country’s dominance at the 2026 World Cup, where Luis de la Fuente’s side combined defensive solidity with attacking quality to reclaim football’s biggest prize.

The triumph marked Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title, 16 years after their historic success in South Africa in 2010, while Rodri’s Golden Ball served as fitting recognition of a tournament in which he was the driving force behind the new world champions.

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Even with his magical performance through which he pulled Argentina at of the deeps in virtually all their encounters, Lionel Messi, appeared inconsolable with his inability to create the most enduring piece of history he apparently desired – winning the World Cup – back-to-back.

For this, he went to the podium soaked in his own tears to receive his medal as the defending champions fell to Spain in the just ended football tournament, which ended this Sunday, at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, the United States.

Failing to reach the first back-to-back men’s World Cup winner since Brazil in 1962, no thanks to Ferran Torres, who scored 37 seconds into the second extra-time period, to seal the spectacular performance of the La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) with a 1-0 victory and handed them their second World Cup title, the Argentine prodigy, was all full of praises for the champions.

Fighting back tears, the 39-year-old Argentine captain said of the La Furia Roja who posted a 20-1 advantage in shots, and 845-433, showing total dominance: “I feel sad, but I am aware that we played our hearts out.

“They were better, to be honest. We lost the game, and we accept that. That doesn’t mean that we will forget everything we’ve done so far, so I’d like to thank my people, my players and the country.”

Even with a year short of 40, by which time virtually all footballers would have retired from the game, Messi’s performance in the three-nation, 2026 World Cup, leaves many believing that he could even show up at the next edition in 2030 to be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. opening matches holding in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, mark the centenary of the tournament.