Rudy Garcia's adventure with the Belgian national football team has ended, as both sides decided not to extend the contract, which expires on July 31 of this month, after 18 months of collaboration during which the French coach led the 'Red Devils' to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, achieving impressive results that restored Belgium to the ranks of the major teams.

The Belgian Football Association announced in an official statement that Garcia, who took over as coach in February 2025 succeeding Domenico Tedesco, will not extend his contract, stressing that the French coach 'played a pivotal role in restoring the Belgian national team to its former glory,' having been appointed under difficult sporting and financial circumstances.

During his tenure, Garcia kept Belgium in the UEFA Nations League (top tier), then led them to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2026, where they eliminated Senegal and the United States, before losing 2-1 to Spain, who later won the title, leaving Belgium as the only country to score against 'La Roja' throughout the tournament, thanks to Charles De Ketelaere.

I Leave Belgium Among the Top 8 Teams in the World

Garcia sent a positive farewell message, saying: 'After consulting with the Belgian Football Association, we decided not to extend the wonderful journey we shared over the past 18 months. I leave Belgium in the UEFA Nations League (League A) and among the top 8 teams in the world.'

He added: 'I would like to thank my wonderful players, sporting director Vincent Mannaert, and the fans who supported us throughout this tournament. I wish Belgium all the best in continuing this generational transition that I was honored to help launch.'

Mannaert: 'Garcia Restored the Team's Cohesion'

For his part, Vincent Mannaert, sporting director of the Belgian national team, praised Garcia's role, saying: 'There is no doubt that Rudy Garcia played a pivotal role in returning the Belgian national team to its former glory. He was appointed as the team's coach under difficult sporting and financial circumstances. Thanks to his commitment and experience in particular, the team regained its cohesion and achieved an excellent result in the recent World Cup.'

Mannaert added: 'On behalf of the association, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Rudy and his assistants for their efforts over the past eighteen months. I am now, with my team, preparing for a new phase, which includes appointing a new coach for the national team.'