For the teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, the cost of failure went beyond an early exit; it also took a toll on coaching staffs, as poor results claimed the jobs of several managers who paid the price for failing to meet their fans’ expectations. Following the conclusion of the Round of 32, the wave of resignations and departures continued, with the Netherlands’ Ronald Koeman and Ecuador’s Sebastián Beccacece joining the list of the tournament’s casualties—a reflection of the immense pressure inherent in football’s biggest global event.
Koeman resigns after Netherlands exit
Ronald Koeman has resigned as head coach of the Netherlands national team following a penalty shootout loss to Morocco in the Round of 32, after the match ended 1–1 in regular and extra time.
Dutch fans had pinned high hopes on Koeman’s experience to lead the “Oranje” to the tournament’s advanced stages—especially given the squad’s exceptional talent—but the campaign ended prematurely, prompting him to step down from his position.
Pecasee announces the end of his journey with Ecuador.
For his part, Sebastián Beccacece announced that he would not continue as head coach of the Ecuador national team following a 2–0 loss to Mexico in the Round of 32.
Beccacece confirmed, in statements reported by the newspaper *A Bola*, that his contract ended upon the conclusion of Ecuador’s World Cup campaign, noting that he would not renew his deal with the Ecuadorian Football Federation.
The Ecuadorian coach said: “It is a sad night for all Ecuadorians. We had high ambitions and worked to develop the national team and improve its level, but we did not succeed in achieving our goal of delivering the best possible performance at the World Cup. My contract ended with the conclusion of the tournament, and I will not continue in my position.”
The list of departing coaches is growing.
The number of coaches leaving their posts during the 2026 World Cup has risen; Koeman and Beccacece were preceded by the coaches who departed the Tunisia and Uruguay national teams, as well as the South Korea head coach, continuing the series of managerial changes driven by results at the 2026 tournament.
