2026 FIFA World Cup: How six national team coaches lost their jobs

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has once again proven to be a crucible for national team coaches, with six managers seeing their tenures end in the wake of the tournament. The World Cup is renowned not just for the players' pursuit of glory but also for the intense scrutiny faced by their coaches, whose four-year plans can be judged by a few critical matches.

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For ex-Barcelona Coach Ronald Koeman, the margins between success and failure could scarcely have been more narrow.

Historically, the competition has been a decisive stage, leading to the departure of numerous managers. This year's tournament has continued that trend, with several national federations opting for changes at the helm or managers stepping aside voluntarily. These decisions often stem from a sense of accountability for results that fall short of national expectations, whether through heartbreaking penalty shootouts, humiliating defeats, or disappointing group-stage exits.

One notable departure is that of Ronald Koeman, who resigned as the Netherlands coach. Despite guiding the Oranje to another knockout stage, their ambitions were dashed by Morocco in a penalty shootout. Koeman chose to step down rather than await a review, accepting responsibility for a campaign that did not meet the nation's high standards. His exit underscores how, at the highest level of international football, even narrow defeats can carry significant consequences.

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The defeat represented more than just another painful World Cup exit. It also marked the conclusion of Koeman’s tenure, as rather than wait for a review by the Dutch football authorities, the former Barcelona player chose to resign, accepting responsibility for a campaign that ultimately fell short of the nation’s lofty ambitions.

South Korea's journey under Hong Myung-bo also concluded with the coach's departure after the team was eliminated by Brazil. While the team showed progress by reaching the knockout rounds, the ultimate outcome led to the end of Hong's tenure, illustrating the unforgiving nature of the World Cup for national team managers.

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His departure once again illustrated how, at football’s highest level, narrow defeats often carry consequences just as severe as comprehensive losses.