Belgium’s World Cup 2026 campaign ended abruptly last Friday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The Red Devils fell 2-1 to Spain in the quarter-finals, failing to advance past this stage for the third straight time.
What happened against Spain?
Spain confirmed its reputation as Belgium’s World Cup nemesis. The final score was 2-1, with a late Spanish goal sealing the elimination. Hours after the final whistle, Foot Mercato reported that Rudi Garcia could leave his post despite meeting the targets of staying in Nations League A and reaching at least the quarter-finals.
Garcia, appointed in January 2025, had a clear brief: keep Belgium in Nations League A and reach the quarter-finals. Both targets were met, but his contract expires at the end of the World Cup. The Belgian FA has not taken any steps to renew it. According to the report, Garcia himself may not be eager to continue, citing tensions with the medical staff and certain players.
Why does this exit weigh on Garcia’s future?
Garcia’s departure would make him the third manager to leave after a World Cup 2026 exit. Before him, Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay) and Roberto Martínez (Portugal) were already dismissed after similar defeats. The Belgian FA, often criticized for its lack of technical stability, may now choose change despite the results.
Garcia leaves behind a team in transition. With key absentees like Jérémy Doku, André Onana and Zeno Debast, Belgium must now look ahead. The last result, a 2-1 loss to Spain on July 10, 2026, stands as a symbol of this end of cycle.
What’s next for the Red Devils?
Belgium faces Italy away on September 25, 2026 in their next match. A game that could mark the start of a new era, with or without Garcia. Fans hope for a fresh start, but doubts linger over the FA’s ability to stabilize its technical staff.
The Red Devils have now lost their last two games after a run of three wins. Their recent form (3W-0D-2L) shows peaks and troughs, but the quarter-final exit highlights the team’s current limits. The golden generation of the 2010s-2020s appears to be fading, leaving a tough transition ahead.
