World Cup 2026 sees wave of coach harassment and player injuries

During the 2026 World Cup, several national team staff and players became targets of intense online abuse and threats. Argentine coaches Sebastián Beccacece and Marcelo Bielsa resigned after their teams' early exits, citing relentless insults from fans and media. Colombian winger Jaminton Campaz was threatened after missing a penalty in the round of 16, prompting the Colombian federation to request a criminal investigation. Dutch internationals Crysencio Summerville, Justin Kluivert and Quinten Timber also faced hateful comments after missed shoot‑outs, leading the KNVB to refer severe cases to the police.

In the quarter‑final, Belgium’s veteran goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered a quadriceps injury against Spain. Though he wanted to stay on the pitch, the coaching staff substituted him, and the replacement’s mistake contributed to Spain’s 2‑1 win. Courtois later confirmed the decision was to protect his health.