The coaching carousel at the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows no signs of slowing down. Following their Round of 16 eliminations, Ecuador and the Netherlands have both confirmed managerial departures, with Sebastián Beccacece and Ronald Koeman stepping down after their teams exited the tournament.
World Cup Sparks Wave of Coaching Changes
The 2026 tournament has already triggered a remarkable number of managerial changes.
Sabri Lamouchi became the first casualty after Tunisia dismissed him during the group stage following a heavy defeat to Sweden. Hong Myung-bo also resigned after South Korea failed to progress beyond the groups, taking responsibility for the disappointing campaign.
Meanwhile, veteran Czech coach Miroslav Koubek left his role by mutual agreement after guiding the Czech Republic to its first World Cup since 2006, only to see the team finish bottom of its group.
With Beccacece and Koeman now joining that growing list, several national teams will begin the road toward their next major tournament under new leadership.
Beccacece's Ecuador Spell Comes to an End
Ecuador's World Cup campaign ended with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico, bringing an end to what had been an encouraging tournament for the South Americans.
After stunning Germany during the group stage to reach the knockout rounds, Ecuador was unable to produce another upset. Shortly after the elimination, Beccacece confirmed that his time in charge of the national team was over.
According to DSports, the Argentine's contract was terminated immediately after the defeat, despite originally running through the end of the year.
Beccacece took charge of Ecuador in August 2024 and oversaw 24 matches, recording nine wins, 12 draws, and only three defeats during his tenure.
Koeman Also Walks Away
The Netherlands will also head into the next international cycle with a new manager.
The Dutch were surprisingly knocked out by Morocco in a dramatic penalty shootout, ending a tournament that many expected would last much longer. Questions over Koeman's tactical approach dominated the post-match discussion, with the veteran coach coming under heavy criticism after the defeat.
Only hours later, he confirmed that he had decided to step down.
The former Barcelona boss admitted he had hoped to finish his second spell with the Netherlands by lifting the World Cup trophy but instead chose to leave after accepting responsibility for the team's disappointing exit.