World Cup 2026 sparks coach firings and record summer transfers

The 2026 World Cup triggered a wave of changes among national team coaches. High-profile dismissals and resignations included Didier Deschamps (France), Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia) after a 1‑5 loss to Sweden, Hervé Renard’s brief tenure in Tunisia, Hong Myung‑bo (South Korea) after group‑stage exit, Miroslav Koubek (Czech Republic), Steve Clarke (Scotland), Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay), Jamal Sellami (Jordan), Carlos Queiroz (Ghana), Ronald Koeman (Netherlands) following a loss to Morocco, Sebastian Beccacece (Ecuador), Vladimir Petković (Algeria), Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) after a shock defeat to Paraguay, and Roberto Martinez (Portugal). The dismissals underscore the intense pressure on coaches to meet post‑tournament expectations.

In the ensuing summer transfer window, the World Cup’s star performers saw their market values surge. Enzo Fernandez, a 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina, moved from Benfica to Chelsea for a British record £106 million. Other hot prospects drawing attention included Folarin Balogun, Michael Olise, Yan Diomande, Ibrahim Mbaye, Antonio Nusa, Andreas Schjelderup, Djed Spence, and John Stones, with clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Tottenham targeting them. The market’s heightened activity reflects clubs’ attempts to secure players who excelled on football’s biggest stage.