The 2026 World Cup will bring together most of the best soccer players on Earth, while giving a historic group of legendary coaches the chance to showcase their best strategies. With 48 countries fighting for global glory, managers are ready to beat their counterparts from the tactical board.

Let’s take a look at the profiles and accolades of every head coach at the 2026 World Cup across both international and club competitions.

Group A

Mexico — Javier Aguirre

(Mexico, 1958) The current Gold Cup champion coach is now in his third separate stint with Mexico, whom he guided to the Round of 16 in 2002 and 2010 World Cups. Back in the role for nearly two years, his resume includes a Mexican League title, a Concacaf Champions Cup, and two Gold Cups (2009, 2023). He also managed extensively in LaLiga, leading Atlético Madrid and taking Mallorca to the 2024 Copa del Rey final.

South Korea — Hong Myung-bo

(South Korea, 1969) A legendary figure in South Korean soccer, Hong Myung-bo is currently in his second stint leading the senior national team. He boasts deep roots in the national setup, having previously managed the country’s youth squads, including leading the U-23 team to a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics. He has been at the helm of the senior squad for almost two years in this current tenure. At the club level, he won back-to-back K League titles (2022 and 2023) with Ulsan HD (formerly Ulsan Hyundai).

Czechia — Miroslav Koubek

(Czechia, 1951) A highly respected veteran of Czech football, Koubek has spent over two and a half years managing the national team. His extensive career includes stints managing the nation’s top clubs—including Slavia Prague, Sparta Prague, and Viktoria Plzeň—as well as the Czech Under-19 national youth team. While his decades on the touchline have been more about stability than silverware, his trophy cabinet includes winning the Czech First League with Viktoria Plzeň in 2015 and a second-division title with SK Kladno.

South Africa — Hugo Broos

(Belgium, 1952) A renowned name across Belgian club football and African international soccer, Broos has been leading the South African national team for just over five years. He possesses a proven track record on the continent, having famously guided Cameroon to an African Cup of Nations glory in 2017. At the club level, he has lifted the Belgian First Division title three times: once with Anderlecht in 2004, and twice with Club Brugge in 1992 and 1996.

Group B

Canada — Jesse Marsch

(United States, 1973) Embracing his first experience as a national team head coach, Marsch has led Canada for just over two years. His previous managerial honors include winning both the Austrian League and Cup with Red Bull Salzburg, as well as the Supporters’ Shield in Major League Soccer with New York Red Bull.

Bosnia and Herzegovina — Sergej Barbarez

(Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1971) One of Bosnia and Herzegovina‘s most iconic soccer figures, Barbarez is embracing the very first managerial role of his career. He has been in charge of the national team for just over two years. Having stepped straight from his playing and post-retirement career into the national team hot seat, he has yet to win a title as a manager.

Qatar — Julen Lopetegui

(Spain, 1966) A renowned figure in Spanish football, Lopetegui boasts immense experience at both the club and international levels. He previously managed the senior Spain national team, as well as their Under-21 and Under-19 squads, winning European youth championships with both. At the club level, he had a stint at Real Madrid and famously won the UEFA Europa League with Sevilla in 2020. Lopetegui has been in charge of the Qatar national team for just over a year.

Switzerland — Murat Yakin

(Switzerland, 1974) A highly respected name in Swiss football as both a former player and coach, Yakin has been in charge of the Switzerland national team for almost five years. Known for his tactical discipline, his previous managerial honors include winning the Swiss Super League back-to-back with FC Basel in 2013 and 2014.

Group C

Brazil — Carlo Ancelotti

(Italy, 1959) One of the most legendary figures in soccer history. He took over the Brazilian national team just over a year ago. He has won the Champions League five times—three times with Real Madrid and twice with AC Milan—and holds league titles across all five major European divisions. His extensive coaching career also includes winning the FIFA Club World Cup three times and lifting domestic cups in Italy, England, France, and Spain.

Morocco — Mohamed Ouahbi

(Belgium, 1976) One of the lesser-known head coaches of the tournament, Ouahbi faces his first major tournament as a non-youth manager. He has extensive experience in youth soccer, spending seven years at Anderlecht before leading Morocco’s U-20 squad to a historic U-20 World Cup championship. He took on the senior head coach role less than three months ago.

Scotland — Steve Clarke

(Scotland, 1963) Embracing his first World Cup as a head coach, Clarke has managed Scotland’s national team for just over seven years. He has extensive Premier League experience as the former manager of West Brom and assistant manager with Liverpool, Chelsea, and West Ham. He has never won a major top-flight title as a head coach.

Haiti — Sebastien Migne

(France, 1972) An experienced manager in international soccer, Migné has led various African nations including Kenya, Congo, Togo, and Equatorial Guinea. He has been in the role with the Haitian national team for just over two years. He is still chasing his first major trophy as a head coach.

Group D

United States — Mauricio Pochettino

(Argentina, 1972) Stepping into his very first experience as an international head coach, Pochettino has been at the helm of the USMNT for nearly two years. He previously won the French league, French Cup, and French Super Cup during his tenure with Paris Saint-Germain. Additionally, he led Tottenham Hotspur to its first-ever UEFA Champions League final in 2019 and previously managed Chelsea, Southampton, and Espanyol.

Australia — Tony Popovic

(Australia, 1973) Embracing his first experience as a national team head coach, Popovic has been in charge of the Socceroos for almost two years. Heavily experienced across both European and Australian club soccer, he famously won the AFC Champions League in 2014 with the Western Sydney Wanderers and lifted the Australian Cup with Melbourne Victory. On the European stage, his managerial journey includes stints with Kardemir Karabükspor in Turkey and Xanthi in Greece.

Turkey — Vincenzo Montella

(Italy, 1974) Marking his first World Cup experience as a head coach, Montella has been leading the Turkish national team for almost 3 years. His extensive managerial career in Italy includes leading historic clubs like AS Roma, Fiorentina, and AC Milan, where he won the Supercoppa Italiana in 2016.

Paraguay — Gustavo Alfaro

(Argentina, 1962) A renowned figure in South American club and international soccer, Alfaro has previously managed Ecuador and Costa Rica National teams. Hes been in the role for almost two years. Regarding club soccer, he has managed Argentinian greats like Boca Juniors, and led Arsenal to the Copa Sudamericana championship in 2007.

Group E

Germany — Julian Nagelsmann

(Germany, 1987) The youngest head coach at the 2026 World Cup, Nagelsmann already boasts plenty of top-level experience. Stepping into his first role as an international coach, he has led the German national team for almost three years. While managing Bayern Munich, he won the Bundesliga in 2022 and the German Super Cup twice (2021 and 2022).

Curaçao — Dick Advocaat

(Netherlands, 1947) The oldest head coach of the World Cup and a historic figure of Dutch soccer, Advocaat has extensive experience. At the international level, he has coached the Netherlands multiple times, Russia, and Belgium. In club soccer, he won the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup with Zenit, the Dutch league with PSV, and the Scottish league with Rangers. He is in his second stint with Curaçao and just a month into the job.

Ivory Coast — Emerse Fae

(France, 1984) Embracing his first World Cup and with little senior club experience, Faé has already written his name in Ivory Coast’s soccer history. He led the team to the Africa Cup of Nations championship in 2024. He has been in the role for over 2 years.

Ecuador — Sebastian Beccacece

(Argentina, 1980) An experienced and respected head coach in South American soccer, Beccacece has left his mark in both club and international soccer. He was the assistant coach for Chile’s 2015 Copa América championship and managed historic teams in the Conmebol region like Independiente, Racing, and Universidad de Chile. He has been in the role for almost two years.

Group F

Netherlands — Ronald Koeman

(Netherlands, 1963) A legendary figure in Dutch soccer, Koeman is currently in his second stint leading the Netherlands national team, having been at the helm for almost three and a half years this time around. In club competition, he has won Spain’s Copa del Rey twice—in 2021 with Barcelona and in 2008 with Valencia—as well as the Eredivisie title three times (twice with Ajax in 2002 and 2004, and once with PSV Eindhoven in 2007).

Japan — Hajime Moriyasu

(Japan, 1968) A historic figure in Japanese soccer, Moriyasu is leading the Samurai Blue into his second World Cup. He led the team to two East Asian championships (2022 and 2025) and has been in charge for almost eight years. Regarding club competition, he has won three Japanese league titles and the Super Cup with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Sweden — Graham Potter

(England, 1975) Embracing his first journey as an international head coach, Potter has been in charge of the Swedish national team for almost eight months. Experienced in English soccer, his career includes managing Chelsea, West Ham, and Brighton, where he took the club to European spots. He won the Swedish Cup during a historic seven-year spell with Östersunds FK.

Tunisia — Sabri Lamouchi

(France, 1971) Embracing his second World Cup after coaching Ivory Coast in 2014, Lamouchi has been ahead of the Tunisian national team for just over four months. Regarding club soccer, he has managed Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest in British football, and Saudi Arabian sides like Al-Riyadh.

Group G

Belgium — Rudi Garcia

(France, 1964) Garcia is embracing his first challenge as an international head coach, having been in charge of the Belgian national team for almost a year and a half. At the club level, he won the French League and Cup double with Lille during the 2010–11 season. He has also managed other major European clubs, including Roma, Marseille, Lyon, and Napoli.

Egypt — Hossam Hassan

(Egypt, 1966) Embracing his first World Cup as a head coach, Hassan has been in charge of Egypt for just over two years. He previously managed Jordan during the 2014 World Cup inter-continental playoffs, where they were eliminated by Uruguay. At the club level, he has extensive experience in the Egyptian Premier League, managing clubs such as Zamalek, El Masry, Ittihad Alexandria, and Pyramids FC.

Iran — Amir Ghalenoei

(Iran, 1963) Ghalenoei is in his second stint with the Iranian national team, having previously managed the squad from 2006 to 2007. In his current tenure, which has lasted just over two years, he led Iran to the 2023 CAFA Nations Cup title. In domestic club soccer, he has won five Persian Gulf Pro League titles and two Hazfi Cups.

New Zealand — Darren Bazeley

(England, 1972) Bazeley has been in charge of New Zealand for almost three years, guiding the team to an OFC Nations Cup title. He has extensive experience within the country’s soccer structure, having won the OFC U-17 Championship three times with the youth national teams and securing two domestic league titles with Waitakere United.

Group H

Spain — Luis de la Fuente

(Spain, 1961) The current European champion coach, who also lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy with Spain in 2023. An expert in youth development, he previously won the Under-19 and Under-21 European Championships with Spain’s youth ranks. He has been in his current role for three and a half years.

Uruguay — Marcelo Bielsa

(Argentina, 1955) A legendary figure in South American soccer, Bielsa boasts extensive international experience, having previously managed Chile and the Argentine national team, whom he guided to an Olympic Gold Medal in Athens 2004. In club football, he has won the Argentine league four times (once with Vélez Sarsfield and three times with Newell’s Old Boys) and is well-remembered in England for winning the Championship title to secure promotion with Leeds United. He has spent just over three years as Uruguay’s head coach.

Cape Verde — Bubista

(Cape Verde, 1970) Led Cape Verde to its historic first World Cup. His only experience in international soccer is his current role, where he has been for almost six and a half years. Regarding club soccer, he has only coached for African clubs.

Saudi Arabia — Georgios Donis

(Germany, 1969) A well known coach in European and Arabian soccer. This is his first World Cup as a head coach, and he has been in the role for just over a month. In Greece he has coached historic clubs like Panathinaikos, he won the Greek Cup with Larissa, as well as the Saudi Arabian Cup and Super Cup with Al-Hilal.

Group I

France — Didier Deschamps

(France, 1968) A legendary coach of European soccer, Deschamps has managed France across three World Cups, famously winning the tournament in 2018 and leading Les Bleus to the final of the 2022 edition. He also secured the 2021 UEFA Nations League title. At the club level, he won the French League, Cup, and Super Cup with Olympique de Marseille. He has spent almost 14 years as France’s head coach.

Norway — Stale Solbakken

(Norway, 1968) Solbakken led Norway to its first major international tournament in 26 years, breaking a qualification drought dating back to 1998. He has been at the helm for five and a half years. At the club level, he dominated Danish soccer with FC Copenhagen, winning eight Superliga titles and four domestic cups, alongside managerial stints in the Bundesliga with Köln and the Championship with Wolverhampton.

Senegal — Pape Thiaw

(Senegal, 1981) One of the coaches with the least experience at this level, Thiaw is in his first permanent head-coaching role after taking over the national team in December 2024. He previously served as an interim manager, guiding Senegal to the African Nations Championship title in early 2023. His only prior head coaching experience was in the domestic league with ASC Niarry.

Iraq — Graham Arnold

(Australia, 1963) Entering his second consecutive World Cup as a head coach after leading the Socceroos in Qatar 2022, Arnold also managed Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He took over the Iraqi national team just over a year ago and successfully guided them to their first World Cup appearance in 40 years. In club soccer, he won the A-League twice—with Central Coast Mariners in 2013 and Sydney FC in 2017—as well as the FFA Cup in 2017.

Group J

Argentina — Lionel Scaloni

(Argentina, 1978) The reigning World Cup champion coach has cemented his place in soccer history by leading the Albiceleste through a golden era, winning back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, alongside the 2022 Finalissima. He has been in charge of the Argentine squad for nearly eight years, remarkably achieving global dominance despite having never served as a head coach for a club team.

Austria — Ralf Rangnick

(Germany, 1958) A renowned and deeply respected name in European football, Rangnick is navigating his first major assignment in senior international management. He has been at the helm of the Austrian national team for just over four years.His club resume is highly decorated, highlighted by winning the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) and the German Super Cup with Schalke 04, as well as capturing consecutive Austrian League and Cup doubles during his time with Red Bull Salzburg.

Algeria — Vladimir Petkovic

(Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1963) Possessing a wealth of experience across both European club and international football, Petkovic previously spent seven highly successful years managing Switzerland. He also enjoyed notable success in Italian football, where he guided Lazio to a memorable Coppa Italia title in 2013. Petkovic has now been leading the Algerian national team for just over two years.

Jordan — Jamal Sellami

(Morocco, 1970) Embracing his first World Cup as a head coach, Sellami has been in charge of the Jordan national team since June 2024 and qualified the country for its first World Cup. Sellami led the Morocco national team to the African Nations Championship title in 2018 and has managed multiple Moroccan youth selections. Regarding club soccer, he has extensive experience in the Moroccan league, where he won the championship in 2020 with Raja Club Athletic.

Group K

Portugal — Roberto Martínez

(Spain, 1973) The current UEFA Nations League champion coach, having guided Portugal to the title in 2025. Boasting extensive experience in both club and international soccer, he famously won the FA Cup with Wigan Athletic in 2013. He has been in the Portuguese role for nearly three and a half years.

DR Congo — Sebastien Desabre

(France, 1976) Desabre led DR Congo back to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. He has been in the role for nearly four years. Regarding club soccer, he has won multiple domestic leagues across Africa, including the Cameroonian league with Coton Sport, the Tunisian league with Espérance de Tunis, and the Angolan league with Recreativo do Libolo.

Uzbekistan — Fabio Cannavaro

(Italy, 1973) The only head coach at the tournament to have won the Ballon d’Or as a player, Cannavaro has managed the Uzbek team for eight months. Experienced in Chinese soccer, he won the league title and the Super Cup with Guangzhou FC. His European top-flight experience includes a six-game stint in Serie A with Udinese, followed by a brief tenure at Dinamo Zagreb.

Colombia — Nestor Lorenzo

(Argentina, 1966) Embracing his first World Cup as a head coach, Lorenzo has been in the role for almost four years. He led Colombia to the 2024 Copa América final. He previously spent a decade working as the primary assistant manager under José Néstor Pékerman, a historic figure who led Argentina to three U-20 World Cup titles.

Group L

England — Thomas Tuchel

(Germany, 1973) Embracing his first experience as an international head coach, Tuchel has led England for almost a year and a half. A renowned manager in European soccer, he won the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2021 with Chelsea, as well as the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, and the French League, Cup, and Super Cup with Paris Saint-Germain.

Croatia — Zlatko Dalic

(Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1966) Dalić is leading Croatia into his third consecutive World Cup, having been in the role for almost nine years. Regarding club soccer, he has an extensive track record in Gulf football, winning the UAE Pro League with Al-Ain FC in 2015 and the Saudi Crown Prince Cup with Al-Hilal in 2013.

Ghana — Carlos Queiroz

(Portugal, 1953) Managing at his fifth World Cup, Queiroz previously led Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018, and 2022. He took over the Black Stars just under two months ago. He won two U-20 World Cups with Portugal (1989, 1991) and, in club soccer, won the Spanish Super Cup during a season with Real Madrid, alongside Cup and Super Cup titles with Sporting CP.

Panama — Thomas Christiansen

(Spain, 1973) After guiding Los Canaleros to the 2023 Gold Cup final, Christiansen qualified Panama for its second World Cup in history. He has been in charge of the national team for nearly six years. At the club level, his career includes managing Leeds United in England, as well as winning the Cypriot first division with APOEL FC in 2017.

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