Honduras dismisses coach Reinaldo Rueda after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup
The Honduran Football Federation (FFH) ended the process after the elimination from the 2026 World Cup and announced a thorough evaluation of the project.
The Honduran Football Federation (FFH) announced the end of the cycle with Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda, after the elimination from the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“We officially announce that the professional relationship of the current coaching staff has ended "The qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup has concluded with the final match," the Honduran Football Federation (FFH) stated in a press release. The Honduran national team was eliminated from the tournament after a 0-0 draw on Tuesday away against Costa Rica, a team that also lost its chance to advance. With this result, Rueda was unable to repeat the feat of 2010, when he led Honduras to the World Cup in South Africa. Honduras has participated in three World Cups: Spain 1982, with Jose de la Paz Herrera; South Africa 2010, with Rueda; and Brazil 2014, under the leadership of Colombian Luis Fernando Suarez.
In its statement, the Honduran Football Federation (FFH) acknowledged its own share in the sporting failure of the process: it stated that it assumes its “responsibility” and that it has “the duty to thoroughly and objectively review the sporting and technical performance of this qualifying process.”
“In this regard, it has been decided to immediately initiate an internal process of technical and structural evaluation of this qualification process based on sports reports, planning analysis, and the overall functioning of the national team project,” the statement added.
The organization also emphasized that “Honduran football cannot give up; on the contrary, by assuming the responsibility we face today, we also assume, with a strong sense of national identity, the task of reversing this difficult moment and turning it into an opportunity for growth, without excuses, towards new horizons, with everyone joining this project.”
Honduras finished in second place in Group C of the Concacaf qualifiers, with nine points from two wins and three losses. There were draws and one loss. Costa Rica finished with seven points and Nicaragua with four. Haiti took first place with eleven points and secured its second World Cup appearance, after Germany 1974.