Rudi Garcia to leave Belgium role after contract expiry

Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia will leave his position after the Royal Belgian Football Association decided not to extend his contract, which runs until the end of July.

Garcia, 62, took charge in January 2025, replacing Domenico Tedesco. He led Belgium to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, where they lost 2-1 to eventual champions Spain. In 20 matches under Garcia, Belgium won 12, drew six and lost two.

What happened

The federation's sporting director, Vincent Mannaert, said Garcia had played a key role in restoring the team after a challenging period. "He was appointed national coach in a challenging sporting and financial context," Mannaert said. "Thanks to his commitment and experience, team cohesion was restored and a strong result was achieved at the most recent World Cup."

Belgium struggled in the group stage, winning only one of three matches, but produced a late comeback to beat Senegal 3-2 in the round of 32. They then impressed in a 4-1 win over tournament co-hosts the United States.

• Garcia's contract expires at the end of July
• Belgium reached the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, losing 2-1 to Spain
• He replaced Domenico Tedesco in January 2025
• Belgium won 12 of their 20 matches under Garcia
• The federation is preparing to appoint a new national coach

Mannaert confirmed he is working on a new cycle, including the appointment of a successor. Garcia, who has previously managed Roma, Lyon and Napoli, has not lasted more than two years in a job since leaving Marseille in 2019.