Coach Ronald Koeman resigned after the Netherlands was eliminated by Morocco at the 2026 World Cup

Coach Ronald Koeman officially resigned as coach of the Netherlands team just a few hours after the team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after a penalty shootout against Morocco. The Netherlands almost progressed to the next round when Morocco equalized in the first minute of second-half stoppage time thanks to a goal from Issa Diop. No team scored more goals in 30 minutes of extra time and the Netherlands were eliminated after failing to convert 2 of 3 penalty shots.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Koeman said: "Last night, I decided to end my term as coach of the Netherlands national team. Looking back on my career, I feel especially proud and grateful. I have had the opportunity to work at Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia, AZ, Feyenoord, Southampton, Everton, FC Barcelona, and of course two spells at Oranje. Clubs and people that have shaped me and brought me me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.

"That's why I feel so heartbroken at the end of my tenure at Oranje. We dreamed of a World Cup in which we would write history. That did not come true. No one is more disappointed than me about that. As a coach, you are responsible for that. I've always felt that and I'll always continue to feel that way."


Koeman was criticized for setting up a squad with five defenders and using counter-attacking tactics, surprising even Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi. The 63-year-old coach, who was appointed national team coach for the second time in 2022, defended his tactics after the match. "With this defensive approach, we conceded much fewer goals than in the group stage matches," Koeman said via Reuters. "It's positive, but at the same time we attack less. You can think about the tactics, but we conceded fewer goals against a much stronger team than Sweden and Tunisia. And if I had to do it again, I would do it again.

"I also knew that if Morocco had not equalized with that late goal, there would have been a lot of praise for me as Netherlands coach, but now, I will be criticized for choosing five defenders, but again, I believe it was necessary.

"You will criticize me, and that is your right, but you watch football from the outside," he added. Morocco will face Canada in Houston on Saturday in the round of 16. As a player, Koeman was a member of the Dutch team that won the 1988 European Championship against the Soviet Union. As coach, he led the team to the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League final and helped the team qualify for Euro 2020, which he did not participate in after leaving to coach Barcelona. After returning as national team coach, the Netherlands advanced to the semi-finals of Euro 2024. The Netherlands has had impressive performances at recent World Cups. They reached the quarter-finals in 2022, the semi-finals in 2014 and were runners-up in 2010. Under Koeman, since 2023, they have failed to beat a team in the top 25 of the FIFA rankings, with eight losses and six draws.

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