Written by Omnia Hassan
As the repercussions of the championship continue World Cup 2026 World Cup: The series of technical and administrative changes within participating national teams continues, after Frenchman Sébastien Desabre announced his departure from coaching the Democratic Republic of the Congo national team, becoming the latest name to leave his post after the World Cup campaign concluded.
The end of the road after England's loss
Desabre's decision came after the Democratic Republic of Congo's loss to England with a score of (2-1) in the Round of 32, a defeat that ended the team's dream of continuing their journey in the tournament held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The French coach confirmed, in statements to the media, that the time has become right to end his mission with the national team, indicating that he will not continue in his position in the upcoming phase.
Desaber: It's time to rest
Desabre explained that his decision was not solely linked to the match result, but also stemmed from his desire to take a break and focus on his health, undergoing treatment after years of continuous work on the field.
The French coach is one of the most prominent names to have led the Democratic Republic of Congo national team in recent years, as he contributed to developing the team's performance and bringing it back to the continental and international forefront.
The seventh victim of the World Cup
With Desabre's departure, the number of coaches and officials who have left their positions following the 2026 World Cup rises to nine, in one of the editions that has witnessed extensive changes within technical and administrative bodies.
The first to depart was coach Sabri Lamouchi after Tunisia's heavy loss to Sweden in the group stage, before Argentine Marcelo Bielsa announced his departure from coaching Uruguay after their early exit.
The tournament also witnessed the departure of Dutchman Ronald Koeman from coaching the Netherlands after their elimination by Morocco in the Round of 32, alongside the resignation of Steve Clarke from coaching Scotland following their failure to advance from the group stage.
The list of those who departed extended to include South Korean Hong Myung-bo, Ecuadorian coach Sebastián Beccacece from Argentina, and Czech Miroslav Koubek, in addition to Yasser Al-Mishal, who announced his resignation from the presidency of the Saudi Football Federation following Saudi Arabia's exit from the first round.
The World Cup imposes its conditions
The wave of resignations and dismissals that followed the tournament underscores the magnitude of the pressures faced by technical and administrative bodies in the World Cup, where decisive results often become turning points in coaches' futures. The tournament thus transforms into a test that is not limited to players' performance on the field, but also extends to the fate of the technical and administrative leaderships after the final whistle.
