Coaches Who Have Been Fired During a FIFA World Cup
The dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi following Tunisia’s heavy defeat at the 2026 FIFA World Cup reopened one of the tournament’s rarest chapters. Throughout history, very few managers have lost their jobs while the competition was still underway, but those cases remain unforgettable.
The pressure of managing a national team at a FIFA World Cup is unlike anything else in football. Even after disappointing results, most federations prefer to wait until the tournament is over before making major decisions. That is why the list of coaches dismissed during a World Cup remains remarkably short.
The latest example came at the 2026 tournament when Tunisia decided to part ways with Sabri Lamouchi just hours after a crushing 5-1 defeat against Sweden. The decision made headlines around the world, as it turned the French coach into the first manager in World Cup history to be fired after overseeing only a single match.
The Historic Case of Sabri Lamouchi
Lamouchi’s tenure with Tunisia was brief and ultimately unsuccessful. Appointed to lead a rebuilding project focused on a new generation of players, he struggled to produce positive results from the start.
Warning signs appeared before the tournament when Belgium defeated Tunisia 5-0 in a World Cup warm-up match. Just days later, another five-goal concession against Sweden convinced federation officials that immediate action was necessary.
Following his dismissal, veteran coach Hervé Renard was appointed on an interim basis in an attempt to revive Tunisia’s hopes for the remainder of the competition.
Other World Cup Dismissals Through the Years
Before Lamouchi, the most notable cases occurred during the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. One involved Cha Bum-kun, one of the greatest figures in Asian football history, who was dismissed by South Korea after a humiliating 5-0 loss to the Netherlands. Assistant coach Kim Pyung-seok took charge for the team’s final group-stage match.
The same tournament also saw Carlos Alberto Parreira lose his position with Saudi Arabia. The World Cup-winning coach with Brazil in 1994 was removed after defeats in the team’s first two matches, including a heavy loss against France. He was replaced by Mohammed Al-Kharashy.
Another case involved Henryk Kasperczak, who was relieved of his duties by Tunisia before the final group match of France 1998 after the team had already been eliminated. Ali Selmi stepped in as caretaker manager.
The Only Resignation in World Cup History
Even more unusual was the case of Andy Beattie with Scotland at the 1954 FIFA World Cup. To this day, he remains the only coach to resign during the tournament. Following an opening defeat to Austria, Beattie stepped down, leaving the team under the supervision of a selection committee for its remaining match.
This list also includes the memorable case of Julen Lopetegui, who was dismissed by Spain just two days before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after his appointment as the future manager of Real Madrid was announced. Although it occurred before Spain’s opening match, it remains one of the most dramatic coaching changes in modern World Cup history.
