The 2026 Fifa World Cup is football’s grandest stage, and every coach dreams of guiding a national team at the tournament. However, that privilege comes with immense pressure as demonstrated at the ongoing 23rd edition of the tournament, as well as in previous editions.
Before the quarter-final matches that started last night, a massive 14 coaches had already left their roles, setting a new record for the number of coaches who have resigned, or have been dismissed due to disappointing results at the showpiece.
They are Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalic, Roberto Martinez (Portugal), Carlos Queiroz (Ghana), Julian Nagelsmann (Germany), Sebastian Beccacece (Ecuador), Ronald Koeman (Netherlands), Miroslav Koubek (Czech Republic), Steve Clarke (Scotland), Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia), Herve Renard (Tunisia), Hong Myung-bo (South Korea), Marcelo Bielsa ( Uruguay), Javier Aguirre (Mexico) and Jamal Sellami (Jordan).
In the aftermath of the 2022 Fifa World Cup held in Qatar, 11 countries made coaching changes, including Brazil, Belgium, Netherlands and Portugal while the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia saw at least eight coaching changes triggered by poor performances, resignation and expiry of contracts.
In the 2014, 2010 and 2006 editions, at least eight, seven and nine coaches respectively left their roles following their teams’ poor performances in the global showpiece.
In having to make a coaching change during the tournament, Tunisia’s campaign demonstrated the intense pressure coaches operate under in the World Cup.
Following a 5-1 drubbing by Sweden in their opening Group “F” match of the competition, Tunisia swiftly fired 54-year-old Frenchman Lamouchi. He was only five months into the job, having been appointed in January on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Tunisia coach Herve Renard reacts during Fifa World Cup 2026 Group F match against Japan at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico on June 20, 2026.
Photo credit: Reuters
Experienced Frenchman Renard was brought in to guide the North Africans until the end of the tournament, but the change failed to spark revival as the team fell 4-0 to Japan, and 3-1 to Netherlands. The team’s heavy defeat to Japan had confirmed their early elimination from the tournament, with Renard stating that the loss had left him feeling “ashamed”.
But for Hong, South Korea’s group-stage exit from the World Cup triggered more than just criticism. Despite his unreserved apology and resignation from his position as the team’s coach following the disappointing performance, Hong was still subjected to online death threats. The threats prompted police to heightened security at Incheon Airport as the squad arrived home.
“All responsibility for that result rests with me as the coach. I failed to repay the expectations and support, and I caused disappointment and hurt to many people. I accept that responsibility heavily as the coach and apologize once again from the bottom of my heart,” he apologised.
South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has called for an investigation into the reasons behind the team’s disappointing performance.
With former champions Uruguay, veteran Argentine coach Bielsa admitted to leaving “nothing good” during his three-year tenure as the national team’s coach. Drawn in Group “H”, Uruguay exited the tournament without a single win, having lost 1-0 to Spain and drawn 1-1 and 2-2 with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde respectively.
Though Bielsa had already stated that he would step down at the end of the tournament, Uruguay’s disastrous performance ensured that he departed under a cloud of shame.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo with coach Roberto Martinez during their Fifa World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match against Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026.
Photo credit: Reuters
Martinez’s resignation as Portugal’s coach saw his tenure end in the same way as it had with Belgium at the 2022 World Cup, following their group stage exit.
At this year’s World Cup, Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 after losing 1-0 to Spain. Appointed Portugal’s head coach in 2023, Matinez guided the team to their second UEFA Nations League title in 2024-25 and won the 2024 European Championship with a perfect 100 per cent record.
Speaking after Portugal’s exit from this year’s event, Matinez said he saw no need of continuing in the role.
“I came to Portugal to win the World Cup, and I think that, without winning it, there is no point to continue,” he said.
