Rudi Garcia will leave his role as Belgium manager at the end of July, ending an 18-month spell in charge of the Belgian Red Devils and setting up a new cycle for the national team.
The Royal Belgian FA said it has decided not to extend Garcia's contract, which expires at the end of July. Vincent Mannaert said Garcia “has unquestionably played a key role in restoring the Belgian Red Devils” and noted that he was appointed in a “challenging sporting and financial context.”
Garcia took over from Domenico Tedesco in January 2025 and leaves after a run that produced 12 wins, six draws and two losses in 20 matches. Belgium also reached the quarter-finals at the 2026 World Cup, where it lost 2-1 to Spain.
What Belgium did under Garcia
Belgium's World Cup run was mixed but ended with a notable step forward. The team won one of its three group-stage matches, then beat Senegal 3-2 after a late comeback in the round of 32 before falling 2-1 to Spain in the quarter-finals.
That tournament run appears to be a key reason the federation is moving on from Garcia now rather than waiting longer. Mannaert said “thanks in particular to his commitment and experience, team cohesion was restored and a strong result was achieved at the most recent World Cup.”
What happens next
The Royal Belgian FA said it is preparing for “a new cycle” and the appointment of a new national coach. Garcia's departure also fits a broader pattern in his recent career: he has not lasted more than two years in a job since 2019, when he left Marseille.
For Belgium, the next manager will inherit a team coming off a quarter-final finish and a 12-6-2 record under Garcia. The job now is to build on that base quickly as attention shifts toward the next chapter, with names such as Mark Van Bommel likely to come into the discussion as the federation looks ahead.
