Rudi Garcia
Head coach of the Belgium national team at the 2026 World Cup.
Last refreshed: 11 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why did Rudi Garcia say Belgium lost to Spain in the World Cup quarter-final?
Timeline for Rudi Garcia
Cited the captain and goalkeeper injuries plus De Bruyne's enforced substitution after the loss
2026 FIFA World Cup: Merino winner sends Spain past BelgiumWhy did Belgium lose to Spain in the World Cup quarter-final?
Who is Belgium's head coach at the 2026 World Cup?
What clubs has Rudi Garcia managed?
Background
Rudi Garcia's Belgium side lost 2-1 to Spain in the World Cup quarter-final, and afterwards he pointed to injuries to his captain and goalkeeper plus an enforced substitution for Kevin De Bruyne as factors in the defeat.
Garcia is a French coach whose club career includes spells at Lille, where he won the Ligue 1 title, as well as Roma, Marseille, Lyon and Napoli. Known for setting up organised, possession-based teams, he took charge of the Belgium national side after building a reputation across several of Europe's top leagues as a coach capable of getting the most from experienced, talent-heavy squads.
His handling of a golden generation of Belgian players, many of them now past their peak years, has been closely watched since his appointment, with the World Cup quarter-final exit against Spain the latest test of whether that squad still has a major tournament run Left in it.
