Rudi Garcia will not remain Belgium coach after World Cup quarterfinal run

Rudi Garcia will not continue as Belgium coach after reaching the World Cup quarterfinals, the Belgian football federation said on July 20, 2026. The two sides were unable to finalise a contract extension, and Garcia’s tenure with the national team will end as a result.

Garcia’s departure comes in the wake of Belgium’s run to the quarterfinal stage of the World Cup. Talks over a renewal of his contract took place between the coach and the country’s soccer federation but concluded without an agreement. The federation confirmed the outcome publicly on July 20, 2026, stating that negotiations had not produced terms acceptable to both parties. The failure to reach a deal means Garcia will step away from the role he held while guiding Belgium through the tournament.

The federation framed the situation as a contractual impasse rather than a sporting judgement, emphasising that both sides had engaged in discussions about extending Garcia’s stay. Those discussions, however, did not result in a signed extension, and the federation announced that he would not continue. The news marks the end of this chapter for the national team’s coaching position following the World Cup campaign.

Garcia’s end of tenure follows the team’s progress to the quarterfinals, a stage the squad reached under his direction. The federation’s statement underlined that the decision was procedural, tied to negotiations over the coach’s contract. No further details about the specific terms discussed were released by either party at the time of the announcement.

Belgium now faces the administrative task of filling the vacancy created by Garcia’s exit, with the federation responsible for determining the next steps. The announcement on July 20, 2026, made clear that the coach will not be retained after the failed extension talks. The federation did not indicate a timeline for appointing a successor in its communication.

Garcia’s departure is directly linked to the unsuccessful contract negotiations with the country’s soccer federation and follows the World Cup quarterfinal appearance. The federation’s confirmation on July 20, 2026, closes the negotiations chapter and leaves the national team without Garcia as coach going forward.