Rudi Garcia has stepped down as Belgium coach following the Red Devils’ exit from the World Cup quarter-finals, with the Belgian football federation confirming the decision.
The 62-year-old was appointed in January 2025 and finished the tournament run with Belgium falling at the last-eight stage to Spain, who went on to win the competition.
Garcia, who succeeded Domenico Tedesco, also played a key role in steering Belgium into Nations League A. That achievement came despite a squad built around an older cohort of established stars, including midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, forward Romelu Lukaku and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
In a statement, the RBFA said it “sincerely” thanked Garcia and his backroom team for their dedication, professionalism and commitment over the previous 18 months, adding that it wished them success in their future endeavours.
The Belgian appointment marked Garcia’s first international coaching role after earlier high-profile club jobs with Lille, Roma and Marseille.
His previous stop at Napoli in 2023 lasted only five months, ending with his dismissal after 16 matches in charge.
At the World Cup, Belgium were unable to progress beyond the quarter-finals under Garcia, leaving their third-place finish in 2018 as the country’s best result at the tournament.
