The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 across the USA, Mexico and Canada, featuring an expanded 48-team field. Of the 48 head coaches at the tournament, 34 will be making their World Cup debuts.
France’s Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, is set for his fourth and final World Cup as head coach. High-profile names such as Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti will also be looking to leave their mark on the global stage in their first World Cup appearances.
Ahead of the tournament, Sportstar profiles all 48 head coaches.
Javier Aguirre (Mexico)
Javier Aguirre returns for a third World Cup with Mexico, having previously led the team at the 2002 and 2010 tournaments. Brought back for his vast experience and tournament know-how, Aguirre will be tasked with harnessing the energy of a home World Cup while ensuring his side remains composed under pressure.
Hong Myung-bo (South Korea)
Hong Myung-bo knows the weight of World Cup expectation better than most in Korean football. As coach, his task is to give Korea more control without losing its transitional threat. The late defensive disruption makes his organisation of the backline even more important.
Miroslav Koubek (Czechia)
Miroslav Koubek took charge after Czechia’s qualification campaign had hit turbulence and brought the team back to basics. At 74, he offers experience and clarity rather than reinvention. His side is expected to be direct, physical and disciplined, with set pieces forming a major part of its plan.
Hugo Broos (South Africa)
Hugo Broos has given South Africa stability and a clearer identity. The Belgian coach, who led Cameroon to the AFCON title in 2017, has leaned on a home-based core and a disciplined structure. His experience could be crucial in helping Bafana Bafana handle a difficult group.
Sergej Barbarez (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
A former Bosnia international captain and poker player, Barbarez took over Bosnia and Herzegovina after its failure to qualify for the Euros in 2024. He’s been a hit so far and established a team that is defensively strong and relies on counter-attacking.
Julen Lopetegui (Qatar)
Felix Sanchez paved the way to the World Cup for Qatar four years back. His compatriot Lopetegui is expected to stick to the Spanish way of football, involving heavy possession and short link-up play. But unlike his predecessor, Lopetegui has much to show. The results have not been in his favour recently and he heads to the World Cup under the pressure of delivering.
Murat Yakin (Switzerland)
It would help Switzerland that Murat Yakin has been in-charge for five years now and did well in leading this team to the last-eight at the Euros despite outside noise about an unsettled locker room. Being the highest-ranked in the group could be the boost in confidence the team needs to make a deep run in the tournament.
Jesse Marsch (Canada)
The former Leeds manager did not last very long in the neighbouring USA but his Canada team is riding a wave of confidence. Canada is yet to win a World Cup match and it is likely to end that drought under Marsch and the comforts of home support.
Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil)
Carlo Ancelotti knows how to win the big titles. His glittering managerial resume counts 36 trophies, including a record five UEFA Champions League triumphs.
Ancelotti joined Brazil in 2025, taking up what is arguably the toughest coaching job in world football. The Italian’s mastery over high-stakes moments will be vital to Brazil’s fortunes at the World Cup.
Mohamed Ouahabi (Morocco)
Despite marshalling Morocco through a triumphant era, Walid Regragui resigned as the side’s head coach just months before the World Cup, blaming the intense pressure that came with the job.
Regragui was replaced by Mohamed Ouahabi, who had led Morocco to the Under-20 World Cup crown in 2025. This will be Ouahabi’s first major assignment at the senior level, as he looks to battle the pressure of expectations.
Steve Clarke (Scotland)
Ever since Steve Clarke’s appointment in 2019, Scotland has made its way steadily out of international footballing wilderness.
In 2020, Clarke guided the Scots to the Euro 2020, their first major tournament appearance since 1998. Another Euro qualification followed in 2024, before his side punched its return to the World Cup. His rugged defensive approach, though, will be put to the test in a challenging group.
Sebastien Migne (Haiti)
At the FIFA World Cup 2026, there might be more distinguished coaches than Sebastien Migne. But it is unlikely that none of them has overcome adversities tougher than the Frenchman.
Migne, who has coached extensively in Africa, took charge of Haiti in 2024. Despite clocking two years with the side, he has never once visited the country. All his work, leading to a historic World Cup qualification, was done in exile.
But at the World Cup, Migne and his men will be stretched to their limit. Spirit can only take them so far.
Mauricio Pochettino (USA)
Bringing in a manager with as much pedigree in the European game as Mauricio Pochettino was a strong statement of ambition from the USMNT, and it will be hopeful the Argentine can take it to new heights this summer. However, he is out of contract after the World Cup and has been linked with the vacant AC Milan job, and it will be hopeful that concerns about his future do not distract from the tournament.
Vincenzo Montella (Turkey)
Vincenzo Montella’s managerial pedigree was largely in club management in his home nation of Italy when he was appointed Turkiye manager after leaving Adana Demirspor, but he has been transformative for the national team. His side has broken more than one historical hoodoo already, and will be looking to do so again this summer.
Tony Popovic (Australia)
One of Tony Popovic’s final acts in international football as a player was to help Australia qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2006, and 20 years later, he will be leading them as a manager. The former Crystal Palace defender took over from long-time manager Graham Arnold, and will be looking to help his country make the next step forward again.
Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay)
Experienced Argentine manager Gustavo Alfaro was tasked with getting Paraguay back to the FIFA World Cup, and he delivered in fine style. Powered by a tenacious, difficult style of football, Alfaro will now be back at football’s biggest event for the second time, having previously managed Ecuador in the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Julian Nagelsmann (Germany)
The former Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig manager has been in charge of Germany since 2023 and guided the side to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024. Known for gegenpressing formations, Nagelsmann will look to use Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala well in the midfield to make constant offence a habit and ensure Germany lives up to its reputation of attacking football at the World Cup.
Dick Advocaat (Curacao)
The mettle and reputation of veteran coach Dick Advocaat made Curacao a dark horse in the CONCACAF region as the team scored 28 goals in 10 matches, conceding a paltry five.
Advocaat had led the Dutch to the World Cup quarterfinals in the United States of America in 1994. Now that he returns to America as the tournament’s oldest-ever coach — at 78 — he will look to script another inspirational tale, this time one about the underdogs.
Sebastián Beccacece (Ecuador)
Assistant managers have often gone on to have bright careers as head coaches. Ask Carlo Ancelotti, who assisted Arrigo Sacchi at the 1994 World Cup, or Hansi Flick, who shared the dugout with Joachim Low at the 2014 edition of the quadrennial tournament.
Sebastián Beccacece, who was Jorge Sampaoli’s assistant at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, will hope to tread a similar path, taking charge of a national team in the tournaments for the first time. The 45-year-old has been in charge of Ecuador since 2024 and oversaw an impressive qualification campaign. And in Mexico, Canada and the USA, he will look to extend the purple match to inspire the team past the group stage for the first time since 2006.
Emerse Faé (Ivory Coast)
Fae inspired the Ivory Coast side back into the World Cup after 12 years, and naturally, would not let his wards go down without giving a fight. He had played in the 2006 edition of the tournament, Ivory Coast’s first-ever World Cup appearance and has proved his ability at the African Cup of Nations as a manager.
Taking charge as a full-time coach mid-tournament in AFCON 2023, his boys beat Mali, Senegal and DR Congo, before defeating Nigeria to lift the title. And as the hunt for the next Drogba continues, the Chelsea legend’s former national teammate will hope he can script another historic chapter for the Elephants at the World Cup.
Hajime Moriyasu (Japan)
Hajime Moriyasu has been in charge of Japan since the 2018 World Cup, and despite not winning any major honours, he has helped Japan maintain its status as one of, if not the best, teams in Asia. His dual role as the Under-23 men’s team coach from 2017 to 2021 has helped identify a young but experienced crop of players who are not just travelling to participate but instead go toe-to-toe with the heavyweights.
Graham Potter (Sweden)
Graham Potter is no stranger to Swedish football, having led Östersund from the fourth tier to the top division during his tenure from 2011-18. His appointment in 2025 was solely to qualify for the World Cup, which he delivered. And despite being in charge of just six games, Sweden’s performances have been more fluid and composed, abandoning the high-pressing system enforced by previous manager Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia)
Just like Tunisia, Sabri Lamouchi will be looking to advance from the group stage for the first time, having failed to do so with an Ivory Coast side in 2014 that had the services of superstars like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and more. Guiding Tunisia is certain to be a much tougher task for the 54-year-old, who has managed just four games ahead of the tournament, winning just one. Additionally, his gamble to revamp the squad in such little time will add more pressure on the former French international.
Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)
Ronald Koeman has already proven that he has the mettle to make a successful outfit, after helping the Dutch qualify for Euro 2020, their first major tournament appearance since the 2014 World Cup. Now in his second stint as boss, the 63-year-old has already shown promising signs at Euro 2024 and looks to bring back an organised attacking identity to the side that has long been accused of abandoning its hallowed Total Football style.
Hajime Moriyasu (Japan)
Moriyasu has been in charge of Japan since the 2018 World Cup, and despite not winning any major honours, he has helped Japan maintain its status as one of, if not the best, teams in Asia. His dual role as the Under-23 men’s team coach from 2017 to 2021 has helped identify a young but experienced crop of players who are not just travelling to participate but instead go toe-to-toe with the heavyweights.
Graham Potter (Sweden)
Graham Potter is no stranger to Swedish football, having led Östersund from the fourth tier to the top division during his tenure from 2011-18. His appointment in 2025 was solely to qualify for the World Cup, which he delivered. And despite being in charge of just six games, Sweden’s performances have been more fluid and composed, abandoning the high-pressing system enforced by previous manager Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia)
Just like Tunisia, Sabri Lamouchi will be looking to advance from the group stage for the first time, having failed to do so with an Ivory Coast side in 2014 that had the services of superstars like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and more. Guiding Tunisia is certain to be a much tougher task for the 54-year-old, who has managed just four games ahead of the tournament, winning just one. Additionally, his gamble to revamp the squad in such little time will add more pressure on the former French international.
Rudi Garcia (Belgium)
Rudi Garcia has inherited a side between eras. His task is not only to get Belgium through the group, but also to make the older core and younger players fit into one structure. Managing Lukaku’s fitness and protecting an ageing spine will be central to Belgium’s tournament.
Hossam Hassan (Egypt)
Hossam Hassan brings stature, emotion and a deep connection with Egyptian football. One of the country’s greatest players, he has tried to give the national team more directness and personality. His challenge will be to keep Egypt compact without reducing the attacking threat around Salah and Marmoush.
Amir Ghalenoei (Iran)
Amir Ghalenoei knows the weight of expectation around Iran. His side is built around experience, and tournament know-how. The challenge will be to make it proactive enough against New Zealand and Egypt, while still retaining the defensive structure needed to contain Belgium.
Darren Bazeley (New Zealand)
Darren Bazeley has been part of New Zealand’s football pathway for years and brings continuity to the All Whites. The Englishman’s squad is settled and built around clarity rather than surprise. The challenge will be to keep New Zealand compact while giving Wood enough service to make its rare chances count.
Luis De La Fuente (Spain)
De La Fuente has been a long-term believer in youth development and has guided a young under-23 Spanish side to the Olympic final before guiding the senior team to the Nations League and European Championship titles.
De La Fuente’s preferred 4-3-3 formation has seen the team yield silverware through conventional attacking football, and Spain will hope to continue the norm at the World Cup.
Bubista (Cape Verde)
Bubista, who took charge of Cape Verde in 2020, has transformed the side from being a mere minnow to a promising side in Africa. In 2023, it beat heavyweight Ghana and drew with Egypt to reach the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations 2023, only to be knocked out on penalties by South Africa.
Playing with an attacking 4-3-3 shape, Bubista’s men lost just once in the World Cup qualification, which included a 1-0 win over Cameroon at home. Entering the World Cup for the first time, either as a player or coach, the 56-year-old will look to execute his plan to perfection.
Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay)
Bielsa was the mastermind of Argentina’s victorious Olympic Games in 2004, which featured legends like Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero in the making. At Leeds United, he groomed Raphinha to become one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe.
Transitioning from 3-3-1-1 to 4-1-4-1, the Argentine specialises in counterattacks, one that will see Facundo Pellistri and Giorgian de Arrascaeta dictate the offence through the wings.
Despite earning laurels in club football, his stint in World Cup football remains a group-stage exit – with Argentina in 2002 – and a round of 16 elimination — with Chile in 2010. In 2026, he will try to improve on that with Uruguay.
Georgios Dionis (Saudi Arabia)
Donis may look like a new name in international football, but his tryst with Saudi Arabian football started over a decade ago as the head coach of Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, with which he won three trophies. He has also worked with Al Wehda (over two spells), Al Fateh and Al Khaleej.
Nicknamed ‘The Train’ for his pace during his playing days, Donis prefers a free-flowing attacking style through a 4-2-3-1 shape, and is expected to have the same philosophy for Saudi Arabia at the World Cup.
Didier Deschamps (France)
Didier Deschamps knows the World Cup like the back of his hand, being only one of three individuals to win it as both player and manager. He has reached two finals in three World Cup appearances in charge of France, and with this edition marking the end of his 14-year tenure, he will be eager to join Italian Vittorio Pozzo as the only managers to win two titles.
Stale Solbakken (Norway)
After being part of the last Norway squad to play at the World Cup, Stale Solbakken was appointed as the nation’s head coach in 2020. His journey has had its ups and downs, including failing to qualify for the World Cup 2022 and Euro 2024. However, he found a pragmatic way of focusing play on his best players for success while also ensuring that a team-first approach exists in the squad.
Pape Thiaw (Senegal)
Pape Thiaw knows a thing ot two about the World Cup after being part of the historic 2002 squad. He was promoted from the Senegal ‘A’ in late 2024 to replace long-term manager Aliou Cisse, a job which he has taken on the chin. Since then, he has guided Senegal to AFCON success while also helping it record five straight wins in the business end of the qualifiers and book its berth in the Finals.
Graham Arnold (Iraq)
The round of 16 defeat against Argentina as Australia manager will still be fresh in Graham Arnold’s mind as he readies himself for a second consecutive appearance at the Finals. However, with Iraq, a tougher task awaits the 62-year-old, who will become the first Australian to be in charge of two nations at the World Cup.
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
Scaloni has been at the helm since 2018 and besides taking Argentina to two Copa America titles and a World Cup, he has managed to create a battle-tested group of players. For all its attacking flair, Argentina under Scaloni has not compromised on defence. Argentina kept the second-most clean sheets through South America’s qualification and it will be tough to beat at the World Cup.
Vladimir Petkovic (Algeria)
There is as much at stake for Petkovic as for Algeria. His initiation at major tournaments was not the best when his side lost 0-2 convincingly to Nigeria in the AFCON quarterfinals. To defeat DR Congo one round earlier, Algeria needed extra-time. But in the lead-up to the World Cup, Algeria drew 0-0 with Uruguay and beat Netherlands 1-0 which suggests that Petkovic might just be hitting the right notes at the right time.
Ralf Ragnick (Austria)
Ragnick accepted this role in 2022 after a damaging spell to his reputation at Manchester United. But Austria’s recent surge has highlighted Ragnick’s tactical brilliance, which was previously evident from his time at RB Leipzig. Through the qualification, Austria relied heavily on pressing and its smooth transitions from its own half.
Jamal Sellami (Jordan)
The Moroccan has gifted Jordan what nobody could in nine previous attempts. Sellami will have to inspire his group of players as they gear up to face teams with far more ability. Sellami sets up with a five-player defensive line and naturally Jordan will rely heavily on its defence and counter-attacks to survive against Argentina and Austria.
Roberto Martinez (Portugal)
You don’t often criticize a manager that has just guided a team to third place in a World Cup but Martinez’s stint with Belgium felt more like a missed opportunity with a golden generation rather than an achievement. The Spaniard did not look too impressive in the beginning of his stint with Portugal but a UEFA Nations League title in 2025 has given the country hope that he could be the man to break the duck.
Nestor Lorenzo (Colombia)
Lorenzo’s managerial CV just has two names written on it – Melgar and Colombia. But the 60-year-old has served as an assistant coach across three World Cup campaigns, one for Argentina and two for his current side. The former Argentina defender will hope he can create the same impact as his mentor Jose Pekerman.
Sebastian Desabre (DR Congo)
The 49-year-old French manager has been a journeyman in Africa over the last decade and a half and has also spent two years in charge of Uganda. ‘The Florist’ as he is called, took over the Leopards four years ago and has since coached them to fourth place at the 2023 edition of AFCON with an attractive brand of football.
Fabio Cannavaro (Uzbekistan)
Not many managers at this World Cup can boast about being Ballon d’Or winners. In fact Cannavaro is the only one who can stake a claim. The Italian legend started his coaching career in the top Asian leagues and took over Uzbekistan after a brief 14-game stay at Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia where it beat his old nemesis AC Milan in the group stage.
Thomas Tuchel (England)
Tuchel is no stranger to England having previously worked at Chelsea, when he coached the Blues to a Champions League title in 2021, and also boasts an envious CV of having managed Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. England will hope Tuchel’s tactical acumen in tournament football can get the best out of its resources.
Zlatko Dalic (Croatia)
After an unusual managerial route which saw him work in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Dalic has now been at the helm of the Croatian senior team for nine years. With a generation of highly technical midfielders at his disposal, Croatia has been able to assert control with its possession-heavy style, making it a hard-to-beat side in recent years.
Thomas Christiansen (Panama)
After brief coaching spells in Greece, England and Belgium, Christiansen took over the Panama role in 2019 and is now the nation’s longest-serving head coach. The Denmark-born Spanish head coach is heavily influenced by his time at Barcelona under Johan Cruyff. Christiansen is likely to employ a 3-4-2-1 shape, aiming to use possession and shape to stifle much-fancied sides.
Carlos Queiroz (Ghana)
Carlos Queiroz is no stranger to the World Cup, set to manage in the quadrennial showpiece for the fifth straight time. However, his previous stints with Portugal (Round of 16 in 2010) and Iran (Group stage in 2014, 2018, 2022) do not make for great reading. Ghana head coach role will be the ninth international side he will be in charge of. His coaching philosophy is built around pragmatism with defensive solidity being central to his team’s chances. Favourites usually find a hard time breaking down Queiroz’s teams.
Published on Jun 11, 2026
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