Hareide was the Danish coach at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. One month before the beginning of the competition, he said of the French national team, which Denmark was to play in the first round: "The great nations at the World Cup are the best, but not France." Most great nations of football performed poorly, while France won the tournament. Hareide managed Denmark to a 2nd place in the group, but Denmark was eliminated in the round of 16 in a penalty shootout against Croatia.