Rudi Garcia to Leave as Belgium Coach After World Cup Quarter-Finals

Rudi Garcia will leave his job as head coach of Belgium. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said his contract, which ends on July 31, will not be renewed.

This news comes after Belgium reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They were knocked out by Spain, who went on to win the tournament.

On Monday, the RBFA announced that their partnership with Garcia, who is 62 years old, would end after 18 months.

Garcia said, “After discussions with the Belgian Federation, we decided not to extend the excellent run of the past 18 months.” He continued, “I leave Belgium in League A of the Nations League and among the world’s top eight teams.”

He also expressed gratitude to those he worked with. Garcia stated, “I would like to thank my fantastic group of players, sporting director Vincent Mannaert, and the fans who supported us throughout the World Cup. I wish Belgium all the best as they continue the generational transition I enjoyed initiating.”

Garcia became the Belgium coach in early 2025. Before that, he managed clubs like Lille, Marseille, Lyon, and AS Roma.

During his time with Belgium, the team stayed in League A of the UEFA Nations League. They also made it to the last eight in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Red Devils lost 2-1 to Spain in the quarter-finals. Charles De Ketelaere scored the only goal that Spain conceded during the tournament.

Garcia leaves with a record of “12 wins, six draws and two defeats” in 20 matches.

The RBFA has not announced who will take over as coach.

Belgium's next matches include a UEFA Nations League game against Italy on September 25. They will also play at home against France on September 28.