01.07.2026 15:51
In Uruguay, which bid farewell to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coach Marcelo Bielsa and Ecuador's coach Sebastian Beccacece left their positions.
The FIFA 2026 World Cup, while being the grand stage of football, has also turned into a trial by fire for many coaches.
RESIGNATIONS IN URUGUAY AND ECUADOR
Two South American teams that exited the tournament saw successive departures. In Uruguay, world-renowned coach Marcelo Bielsa and in Ecuador, Argentine manager Sebastian Beccacece announced their resignations following their teams' elimination from the cup.
''I HAVE NO EXCUSES''
After a major disappointment in Uruguay, which entered the cup with high hopes but finished the group stage with only 2 points in Group H featuring Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde, experienced coach Marcelo Bielsa submitted his resignation. The 70-year-old Bielsa announced his resignation with these words: "There is no excuse for taking only two of the nine points. My responsibility is very clear; I cannot justify the result. I failed to make good enough use of the quality of players we had. We gave our best, but it was not enough."
HE ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS RIGHT AFTER THE MATCH
Another resignation news from the World Cup came from the Ecuadorian side. Ecuador, which faced one of the tournament's hosts, Mexico, in the Round of 32, exited the tournament after a 2-0 defeat. Immediately after the final whistle, Argentine coach Sebastian Beccacece officially announced his departure.
RESIGNATION COUNT RISES TO 6
With these changes in Uruguay and Ecuador, the number of coaches who resigned following unsuccessful results in the 2026 World Cup has reached 6. Besides Bielsa and Beccacece, Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, Scotland coach Steve Clarke, South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo, and Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek had already stepped down.