A quarter of the 48 head coaches at the 2026 World Cup — twelve in total — have either been sacked or left their posts, an unusually high turnover that underlines the pressure and volatility surrounding international management at the tournament. The departures span teams eliminated in the group stage and the knockout rounds, and range from abrupt dismissals after heavy defeats to dignified resignations by long-serving figures whose contracts had run their course.

The exits were driven by a mix of poor results, expiring contracts and personal decisions. Tunisia lost two coaches in quick succession: Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after a 5-1 defeat by Sweden, and his successor Hervé Renard resigned after just 18 days as the side conceded a record 12 group-stage goals. Others left following knockout eliminations — Roberto Martínez (Portugal), Zlatko Dalic (Croatia, the longest-serving on the list) and Carlos Queiroz (Ghana) — while Hong Myung-bo (South Korea), Miroslav Koubek (Czechia), Steve Clarke (Scotland) and Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay) also departed, some amid heavy public criticism.