Martinez and Dalic leave their posts after Portugal and Croatia's eliminations

Roberto Martinez and Zlatko Dalic have both ended their international tenures in the wake of the 2026 World Cup, bringing to fifteen the number of national team managers who have left their posts since the tournament kicked off.

Martinez officially announced his departure from the Portuguese national team after Seleção’s elimination in the round of 16 against Spain (0-1). The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the news on Tuesday morning. The Spaniard had taken charge of Portugal in 2022 following his spell as Belgium manager.

Dalic, meanwhile, is stepping down after nine years at the helm of Croatia. A finalist at the 2018 World Cup and third-place finisher in 2022, the Croatian coach did not survive elimination in the round of 16, against Portugal no less. An early exit that contrasts sharply with the heights reached during his two previous World Cup campaigns.

Their departures are part of an unprecedented wave of changes at the head of national teams since the start of this 2026 World Cup. Before them, Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia), Steve Clarke (Scotland), Hong Myung-bo (South Korea), Miroslav Koubek (Czechia), Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay), Ronald Koeman (Netherlands), Sebastian Beccacece (Ecuador), Vladimir Petkovic (Algeria), Julian Nagelsmann (Germany), Hervé Renard (Tunisia), Jamal Sellami (Jordan), Carlos Queiroz (Ghana) and Javier Aguirre (Mexico) had already left their positions.

Portugal and Croatia will now need to identify new technical projects ahead of their next international fixtures.