Belgian FA begins search for new national team coach following 2026 World Cup campaign
Belgium manager Rudi Garcia will step down as head coach at the end of July after the Royal Belgian Football Association decided not to extend his contract, bringing his 18-month spell in charge of the national team to an end.
Garcia, who took over from Domenico Tedesco in January 2025, guided Belgium to the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Red Devils were narrowly beaten 2-1 by eventual champions Spain.
Although Belgium fell short of a semi-final place, the Belgian FA praised Garcia for helping restore stability and unity within the squad during a challenging period for the national team.
Belgian FA thanks Garcia
Royal Belgian FA sporting director Vincent Mannaert paid tribute to Garcia’s contribution, describing his leadership as vital in rebuilding the squad.
“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 to his commitment and experience, team cohesion was restored and a strong result was achieved at the most recent World Cup.”
He also thanked Garcia and his coaching staff for their work over the past 18 months while confirming preparations are already underway to appoint a new head coach.
Mixed World Cup campaign
Belgium’s journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup had its ups and downs.
The Red Devils struggled during the group stage, winning only one of their three matches to qualify for the knockout rounds.
However, they produced one of the tournament’s biggest comebacks in the Round of 32, recovering to defeat Senegal 3-2 after a dramatic second-half fightback.
Belgium then delivered one of their finest performances of the competition by beating tournament co-hosts the United States 4-1 in the Round of 16.
That victory was overshadowed by controversy after FIFA temporarily lifted the suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun. Garcia jokingly described the decision as feeling like “an April Fools’ Day joke.”
Belgium’s World Cup journey eventually ended in the quarter-finals after a narrow defeat to Spain, who went on to lift the trophy.
Another managerial change
Garcia leaves Belgium after becoming the latest stop in a coaching career that has included spells with Roma, Lyon, Marseille and Napoli.
Since leaving Marseille in 2019, the experienced French manager has not remained in any coaching position for longer than two years.
Belgium will now begin a new chapter as the football federation searches for a successor to lead the Red Devils into the next international cycle, including preparations for future European Championship and World Cup qualifying campaigns.
With several experienced Belgian and international coaches expected to be linked with the role, attention now turns to who will guide one of Europe’s most talented national teams into its next era.
