9 July 2026
One in Four World Cup Coaches Already Gone as Tournament Bites Hard
The 2026 World Cup has triggered a wave of managerial exits, with a quarter of the coaches who started the tournament already out of their jobs.
According to beIN Sports, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has proven to be a brutal environment for national team managers, with one in four of the coaches who began the tournament having already departed. It is a remarkable rate of turnover that underlines just how unforgiving football's biggest stage can be.
Among the most notable departures is Zlatko Dalic, who ended his nearly nine-year reign as Croatia head coach following their round of 32 exit to Portugal. Dalic, who guided Croatia to the most successful period in their football history, described stepping down as the most difficult decision of his career.
With the quarter-finals now upon us, the pressure on the remaining coaches is only growing. For those still standing, the exits of their peers are a sharp reminder of what is at stake with every selection and every tactical call.
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