As the FIFA World Cup draws closer to lowering the curtain on its competitions, its true consequences begin to emerge — consequences that extend far beyond match results to the fates of coaches and national federation presidents, who find themselves in direct confrontation with fans who accept nothing short of success, and with administrations searching for a peg on which to hang their failures.
The 2026 World Cup has witnessed a series of resignations and dismissals resulting from early exits or declining performances, once again confirming that football knows no mercy, and that defeat on the world's biggest footballing stage can topple names that have built long histories in the game.
Among the most prominent casualties so far are the dismissal of Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi, and the resignations of South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo, Scotland coach Steve Clarke, Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek, Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, and Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa — alongside the resignations of Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser Al Misehal and Qatar Football Association president Jassim Al Buainain.
But is the coach alone responsible for failure? In my view, the problem runs far deeper than that. The success of national teams begins with an integrated system encompassing planning, preparation, talent identification, and administrative and technical stability — and it is not fair to place the entire bill for defeat on the coach's shoulders alone. The proof is that a number of these coaches possess records brimming with achievements, yet they collided with technical and administrative circumstances that did not help them meet expectations.
It is also worth noting that some of these coaches will become targets for clubs in search of big names, which confirms that their professional value does not vanish simply because of a lost match or tournament. The coaching market remains open to those with genuine experience.
The World Cup remains the greatest sporting event on earth — not only because it brings together the finest national teams, but because it represents a vast global industry around which billions of dollars revolve and towards which billions of fans turn their eyes. It is "the beautiful madness" that forges glory for the victorious and does not hesitate to bring down the mighty at the first stumble, keeping football the most gripping and captivating game of all — equally capable of producing tears and jubilation at the same time. And God is the guide to what is right.