SouthernWorldwide.com – The 2026 World Cup is fast approaching, with the time for talk set to end and teams needing to prove their mettle on the North American pitches.
All paths, traversing the United States, Mexico, or Canada, will converge on New Jersey on July 19 for the grandest spectacle in football: the World Cup final.
While the field will be graced by numerous footballing superstars, the technical areas will host an equally impressive array of recognizable figures in management.
This tournament boasts what is arguably the most star-studded, and potentially the greatest, managerial lineup in World Cup history, featuring elite club coaches who have transitioned to the international stage, former Premier League stalwarts, and legendary players now plying their trade as managers.
Four of the most sought-after and successful managers from the past decade of European club football are heading to the World Cup.
Carlo Ancelotti, formerly of Real Madrid, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, has an unparalleled record of five Champions League titles and has secured league championships in five different countries: Italy, England, France, Spain, and Germany. He now shoulders the responsibility of ending Brazil’s 24-year quest for a sixth global crown.
As the first foreign coach in the history of the Selecao, Ancelotti’s tenure has not been without its challenges, yet signs of Brazil hitting their stride at the opportune moment have emerged.
Thomas Tuchel, another Champions League winner, has been tasked with guiding one of the tournament favorites, despite his German nationality, to end England’s 60-year wait for major silverware. He orchestrated a flawless qualifying campaign for the Three Lions, winning all eight matches without conceding a goal. While recent friendly results have raised some concerns, Tuchel’s proven success in knockout competitions from his spells at Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund bodes well for a deep tournament run.
Similar to Ancelotti and Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, who has managed at both Stamford Bridge and Parc des Princes, faces what may be his most demanding challenge yet: ensuring the United States capitalizes on this pivotal moment in American soccer history. Pochettino has navigated inconsistent form, player absences, and persistent questions about his future, particularly during a difficult season at Tottenham. While his tenure with the U.S. might be a one-off, his coaching acumen is expected to contribute to a successful tournament for the co-hosts.
Completing this distinguished quartet is Julian Nagelsmann, the only manager among them with prior international tournament experience. Uniquely, Nagelsmann, still in his thirties, has already made a significant impact in international football. His German side embodies a youthful energy and has achieved notable results under the guidance of the former Bayern Munich boss. They will be aiming to surpass their quarter-final exit at Euro 2024.
While these managers have amassed numerous club trophies, they are still seeking international silverware. However, the tournament also features coaches who have firsthand experience of winning major competitions.
Didier Deschamps will manage France for the final time at this World Cup, having led Les Bleus to victory in 2018 and to the final in 2022, where they were narrowly defeated by Argentina. Deschamps has been at the helm of France for 14 years, reaching three major finals during that period, and few would doubt his capability to reach another.
Lionel Scaloni, the successor to Deschamps in terms of World Cup triumph, continues to lead Argentina, despite having hinted at stepping down on multiple occasions since their glorious victory in Qatar. Scaloni has also secured two Copa América titles with La Albiceleste and has the distinction of managing Lionel Messi in what could be his final international tournament as an active player.
Deschamps and Scaloni are the only World Cup-winning managers participating in 2026, but other coaches have achieved success at continental levels. Luis de la Fuente, for instance, embarked on a varied career through Spain’s youth ranks before guiding the senior national team to glory at Euro 2024, defeating England in the final.
Emerse Fae, however, boasts the most remarkable path to tournament success. At the start of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Fae served as assistant manager for Ivory Coast. Following the mid-tournament resignation of Jean-Louis Gasset, Fae stepped into the head coach role and led the Elephants to the final, where they triumphed over Nigeria.
Depending on one’s perspective, Pape Thiaw can also claim an AFCON title, as Senegal lifted the trophy in January. However, it was Thiaw’s decision to have his players leave the pitch in protest that led CAF to ultimately award the victory to Morocco, though the Senegal boss does possess a winner’s medal.
In addition to Ancelotti, Tuchel, and Pochettino, a host of other former Premier League coaches are heading to the World Cup.
Marcelo Bielsa, the former Leeds United manager, will lead Uruguay into battle. The unconventional Argentine inspired immense loyalty in West Yorkshire during his three-and-a-half-year tenure and could achieve iconic status with Uruguay if they advance deep into the competition.
Jesse Marsch, another alumnus of Elland Road, will aim to cause upsets with co-hosts Canada. Marsch reportedly believed he was the frontrunner for the U.S. coaching position before Pochettino’s appointment, and will therefore be motivated to make a statement to both his compatriots and those in England who criticized his time at Leeds.
Ronald Koeman will manage the Netherlands, having previously coached Southampton and Everton in the English top flight. His most recent club role was remarkably at Barcelona. Roberto Martinez, another former manager of Everton and Wigan Athletic, will take charge of Portugal. Martinez previously managed Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ from 2016 to 2022, guiding them to two World Cups, though he was unable to secure the ultimate prize. He now faces the task of delivering Cristiano Ronaldo the one trophy that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career.
Elsewhere, Julen Lopetegui, the ex-Wolves and West Ham manager, will finally get his chance to coach at a World Cup after being dismissed by Spain on the eve of the 2018 tournament for holding discussions with Real Madrid. He will lead Qatar. Ralf Rangnick, formerly of Manchester United, has brought his gegenpressing philosophy to the Austrian national team, while Steve Clarke, the former West Brom boss, will be in charge of Scotland as they strive to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the very first time.
Graham Potter, one of only two English managers at the tournament (alongside New Zealand’s Darren Bazeley), is making a comeback after difficult spells at Chelsea and Brighton to lead Sweden through the UEFA playoffs. Having built his reputation in Scandinavia with Ostersunds, Potter is now tasked with getting the best out of players like Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres in North America.
However, no manager will bring more experience than Dick Advocaat, who at 78 is set to become the oldest manager in World Cup history. A former manager of Sunderland, Rangers, PSV, and Fenerbahce, Advocaat will coach at his third World Cup, 32 years after his first, having performed a minor miracle in qualifying Curaçao for the tournament. Advocaat had to step down in the months following this success to care for his ill daughter but was persuaded to return just a few weeks later to once again lead one of the tournament’s debutants.
Norway’s Stale Solbakken, Panama’s Thomas Christiansen, and Tunisia’s Sabri Lamouchi all have previous experience in the English Championship; Solbakken managed Wolves, Christiansen had a brief spell at Leeds, and Lamouchi managed both Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City in the second tier.
Certain coaches become synonymous with tournament football, appearing every two or four years as fans gather to watch the matches unfold.
One such coach is Zlatko Dalic, who will be guiding Croatia into their third World Cup under his management. He has consistently reached the semi-finals in his previous two attempts, including leading Croatia to a runners-up finish in 2018, setting a high bar for him to meet in 2026.
Javi Aguirre is also heading to his third World Cup in charge of Mexico, though these have been during separate tenures with El Tri. Aguirre managed Mexico in both the 2002 and 2010 tournaments and has returned for one final campaign with the co-hosts before handing over the reins to his assistant and legendary former captain, Rafa Marquez.
Hajime Moriyasu is becoming a regular presence at World Cups. He served as Japan’s assistant coach in 2018 before taking the top job for 2022, where he led the Samurai Blue to victories over both Spain and Germany, enabling them to progress from a formidable group.
There are also familiar faces in new roles; Vladimir Petkovic, long-time Switzerland boss, is now in charge of Algeria, while Graham Arnold will lead Iraq to their first World Cup since 1986, having guided Australia to the last 16 four years prior.
However, none can compare to Carlos Queiroz, who will become only the third man ever to coach at five consecutive World Cups after accepting a late offer to manage Ghana. The former Real Madrid boss and Manchester United assistant has previously coached Portugal and Iran (three times) at the tournament, matching the achievements of former United States manager Bora Milutinovic and 1994 winner Carlos Alberto Pereira, the latter of whom holds the record for most managerial appearances with six.
While Ancelotti, Koeman, and Pochettino all enjoyed stellar playing careers at the highest level before transitioning into management, only two coaches in 2026 can claim to have won the World Cup as players.
The first is Deschamps, one of only three men to have lifted the trophy both as a player and a manager, having been part of France’s victorious 1998 squad. The other is Fabio Cannavaro, Italy’s inspirational captain from 2006.
The Ballon d’Or winner from two decades ago has been appointed to lead debutants Uzbekistan, taking over in October after their qualification was confirmed. A former title winner in China, Cannavaro’s results have been mixed thus far as the first Central Asian side to reach the World Cup finals aims to advance from a group that includes Portugal and Colombia.
With no direct rooting interest in a third consecutive World Cup, Italian fans will also be keen to follow the progress of former Azzurri striker Vincenzo Montella. A member of the Italy squad that reached the Euro 2000 final and a Serie A winner with Roma, Montella has guided Türkiye to their first World Cup appearance since their semi-final run in 2002.
The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three nations, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will be broadcast live across FOX and FS1, with every match available for live streaming and on-demand viewing within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.
