​A 12th FIFA World Cup manager has stepped away from his national team as the tournament moves into the quarterfinal stage. Croatia’s head coach Zlatko Dalic resigned after nine years in charge, following a Round of 32 exit at the World Cup. Dalic, 59, took the reins in 2017 and steered Croatia to a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup and a third-place finish in 2022, cementing his reputation as perhaps the greatest Croatian football coach of all time.
The departure comes amid a dramatic upset for Croatia, who were eliminated in a heart-stopping fashion by Portugal in the Round of 32. A last-minute goal by Josko Gvardiol appeared to have leveled the match at 2-2 in the 103rd minute, but the strike was ruled out for offside in the buildup. The ball had deflected off teammate Igor Matanovic’s hair, and FIFA’s Snickometer technology—embedded in the ball to detect contact—confirmed the offside ruling when the ball reached Mario Pasalic, who was adjudged offside after the deflection. Consequently, Portugal advanced with a 2-1 victory, ending Croatia’s tournament run. In the aftermath, Dalic expressed frustration, saying that VAR decisions “take the joy out of football.”
Dalic becomes the 12th manager to leave his post since the tournament began, with some departures proving more sour than others. Following Portugal’s progress past Croatia, Roberto Martínez announced his resignation from the Spanish side after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16. The wave of managerial changes continued across the competition, underscoring the intense pressure and scrutiny facing national team coaches at the World Cup.
Several other managers either left during the tournament or after their teams were eliminated. Javier Aguirre (Mexico), Carlos Queiroz (Ghana), Julian Nagelsmann (Germany), Sebastian Beccacece (Ecuador), Ronald Koeman (Netherlands), Miroslav Koubek (Czechia), Steve Clarke (Scotland), Hong Myung-bo (South Korea), Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay), and Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia) all parted ways with their respective national teams around this period. Lamouchi, notably, was the only manager to depart mid-tournament, exiting Tunisia after a 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their Group F opener.
Other managers had already signaled their intent to step away after the 2026 World Cup. France boss Didier Deschamps indicated he would step down once his team—still among the tournament favorites—completes its run in the United States. Meanwhile, the United States men’s national team’s head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, has an uncertain future, with his contract set to expire at the tournament’s end and discussions already underway about a possible new deal.
The latest developments come on the heels of a difficult campaign for the USMNT, who suffered a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16, leaving Pochettino’s status in limbo as negotiations for a potential extension continue. The ongoing cycle of managerial changes highlights the high stakes and pressure that accompany international football at the World Cup, where expectations are relentlessly measured against the backdrop of national pride and the hope of lifting the trophy in a tournament that captures global attention.