Coaches Resign After World Cup Setbacks; Egypt Extends Coach's Contract

The aftermath of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers has seen a wave of resignations among national football team coaches who failed to meet expectations, while some continue their tenures. Mexico's head coach, Javier Aguirre, stepped down after his team's exit in the Round of 16, marking his third stint leading the national team. The Mexican Football Federation has appointed former player Rafael Márquez as his successor, aiming for continuity and development.

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I took on the Portuguese national team to win the World Cup. If we didn't win, there's no point in continuing.

Croatia's coach, Zlatko Dalić, also departed after the team's surprising elimination in the group stage. Dalić led Croatia to significant achievements, including a runner-up finish in the 2018 World Cup and third place in 2022. Despite these successes, the recent performance prompted his departure. The Croatian Football Federation expressed gratitude for his contributions, acknowledging the historic achievements made during his tenure.

Portugal's coach, Roberto Martínez, resigned immediately after their Round of 16 exit. Martínez stated that his objective was to win the World Cup, and failing to do so rendered his continued role meaningless. He had taken charge in January 2023 with the aim of securing a historic title for Portugal, potentially with Cristiano Ronaldo in his final World Cup appearance.

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The achievements we have made over the past nine years were beyond our wildest dreams. The unity that the national team has created with the people is indescribable.

Conversely, Egypt's national team has decided to extend the contract of their coach, Hossam Hassan. This decision comes despite their elimination after a loss to Argentina in the quarterfinals. The Egyptian Football Association cited the desire to complete the team's technical project and build upon past achievements as reasons for retaining Hassan. Hassan himself had expressed strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions during their match against Argentina.

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The extension of Hassan's contract is part of the board's determination to complete the national team's technical project and further develop the historic achievements of Egyptian football.