Belgium's football association announced on July 20, 2026, that it will not renew coach Rudi Garcia's contract, which expires at the end of July 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. Garcia, 62, led Belgium to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, where they lost to eventual champions Spain [1, 2, 3, 4].
Garcia was appointed Belgium coach in January 2025, replacing Domenico Tedesco [2]. During the World Cup group stage, Belgium had an unconvincing performance, earning one win and two draws. The team improved in the knockout rounds, beating Senegal 3-2 in the round of 32 and defeating the United States 4-1 in the round of 16 [2, 4]. The latter match was overshadowed by the temporary lifting of the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun [2].
Vincent Mannaert, sports director of Belgium's football association, praised Garcia’s role in restoring team cohesion amid challenging sporting and financial conditions over the past 18 months. He said, "Rudi Garcia has unquestionably played a key role in restoring the Belgian Red Devils. He was appointed national coach in a challenging sporting and financial context. Thanks in particular to his commitment and experience, team cohesion was restored and a strong result was achieved at the most recent World Cup. On behalf of the federation, I would like to warmly thank Rudi and his assistants for the past 18 months. Together with my team, I am currently preparing for a new cycle, including the appointment of a new national coach" [2].
Garcia has not lasted more than two years in any managerial role since leaving Marseille in 2019 [2]. The Belgian association has already started preparing for the next coaching cycle, including finding a new national coach [1, 2, 3, 4].
