Belgium Parts Ways with Rudi Garcia After 2026 World Cup Campaign
The Royal Belgian Football Association has decided not to extend the contract of head coach Rudi Garcia, bringing his tenure with the Red Devils to an end.
Garcia, aged 62, led Belgium to the quarter‑finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the team lost 2‑1 to eventual champions Spain. His current agreement runs until the end of July.
He took over the national side in January 2025 after Domenico Tedesco’s departure and spent 18 months in charge.
Royal Belgian FA sports director Vincent Mannaert praised Garcia’s contribution during a turbulent period for Belgian football.
“Rudi Garcia has unquestionably played a key role in restoring the Belgian Red Devils,” Mannaert said. “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.”
He added that the federation thanks Garcia and his assistants for the past 18 months and is already preparing for a new cycle, including the appointment of a successor.
Belgium’s World Cup campaign began inconsistently, with just one win from three group matches. The side rallied in the knockout stage, defeating Senegal 3‑2 in the round of 32 before producing a commanding 4‑1 victory over co‑hosts the United States.
The match against the United States was overshadowed by a controversial FIFA decision regarding forward Folarin Balogun, which Garcia described as an April Fools’ Day joke.
Garcia, who previously managed Roma, Lyon, Napoli and Marseille, now departs after another short managerial spell; he has not remained in a coaching role for longer than two years since leaving Marseille in 2019.
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