The coaches returning to the World Cup stage
The tournament in North America will feature a lengthy list of coaches who already have World Cup experience under their belts.
Fourteen coaches have previously guided teams at the global finals
World Cup winners Didier Deschamps and Lionel Scaloni are among them
Mexico’s Javier Aguirre and Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa trace their experience back to 2002
At the FIFA World Cup 2026™, a whole host of coaches will begin the tournament boasting experience at the global finals. Didier Deschamps is heading for a fourth World Cup, while the likes of Zlatko Dalic and Javier Aguirre will be guiding their national sides for a third tournament. Marcelo Bielsa, meanwhile, has taken charge of different nations in each of his three tournament outings.
However, this does not necessarily equal success. Nor does being a first-timer mean they do not have a chance of springing a surprise. Take Lionel Scaloni, for instance. The most recent coach to get his hands on the World Cup trophy went into the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ without prior World Cup managerial experience, though he had been Jorge Sampaoli’s assistant at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
That said, making your World Cup debut is a completely different kettle of fish to having a second or third crack at it. The experience is a whole different ball game, your understanding changes, and the way you convey your message to the players can change.
Here is a roundup of the coaches who will be returning for another bite of the cherry at the World Cup in North America.
At 57, Deschamps will have the privilege of heading up one of France’s most gifted generations in history, with Kylian Mbappe leading the line. The coach, who won the World Cup as both player and captain in 1998, got his hands on the trophy from the dugout in Russia after his side overcame Croatia in the final. Four years later, they came up just short against Argentina in the final, in what is considered one of the greatest battles in World Cup history.
Now at the helm of Uruguay, ‘El Loco’ will be the only coach in North America to have been in charge of three different nations at the World Cup. In 2002, despite being one of the tournament’s favourites, Argentina crashed out in the group stage, with England and Sweden making it through to the next round. Eight years later, this time in charge of Chile, his side were knocked out in the Round of 16 by Brazil, in a tournament that marked the beginning of a truly golden generation. Now with Uruguay, Bielsa will be hoping to restore some pride after the Celeste’s poor showing and early exit from the group stage at Qatar 2022.
At Russia 2018, Renard was in charge of Morocco, who failed to make it past the group stage, only picking up a solitary point in a group featuring Portugal, Spain, and IR Iran. Four years later, he masterminded one of the World Cup’s greatest upsets, as Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina with a 2-1 victory in their Group C opener. In North America, he is back for another stint after a spell at the helm of France at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™.
Like Bielsa, ‘El Vasco’ has been a familiar figure at the World Cup, always in charge of Mexico. In 2002, after firing on all cylinders in the group stage, Mexico were dealt a harsh blow as their World Cup hopes were dashed by rivals USA in the Round of 16. Once more, Aguirre’s side shone in the group stage in 2010, finishing runners-up to Uruguay, but bowed out to Argentina in the knockout stage. On home soil, Aguirre will face the toughest test yet of his three World Cup stints.
As Belgium boss, Martinez experienced a real rollercoaster of emotions. In 2018, he got the best out of a golden generation of players, with stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, and Thibaut Courtois among others, steering them to a third-place finish. Four years later, Belgium struggled to find their feet and crashed out in the group stage, finishing behind Morocco and Croatia. Now in charge of Portugal, he comes into the tournament as the UEFA Nations League champion.
A coach who took Croatia to new heights. In 2018, with Luka Modric the beating heart of his side and in scintillating form, Croatia fell at the last hurdle, losing 4-2 to France in the final. In 2022, with a slightly weaker side, Croatia lost 3-0 to Argentina in the semi-final, but managed to secure third place by overcoming Morocco. In 2026, his initial challenge will be to navigate a group containing England, Ghana and Panama.
Scaloni was in the dugout as an assistant to witness Argentina’s gruelling Russia 2018 campaign. In 2022, with Argentina entering the tournament as the 2021 Copa America champions, he was in charge of the side that many believed gave Lionel Messi his last shot at getting his hands on the trophy. And he did not disappoint. In North America, he will get the chance to lift another World Cup trophy, a feat that eluded former Argentina coaches Luis Menotti (1978-1982) and Carlos Salvador Bilardo (1986-1990).
After leading Ecuador to a historic qualification, Alfaro enjoyed a taste of glory at Qatar 2022, as his side bagged themselves a win over the hosts and shared the spoils with the Netherlands in Group A. Despite their strong start, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Senegal meant they missed out on the last 16. He heads into this World Cup in charge of Paraguay, who are making their first World Cup appearance in 16 years, in what promises to be a memorable campaign.
The architect of one of the most outstanding World Cup campaigns in the tournament’s history. In Qatar, Morocco finished fourth, a fantastic result few people saw coming before the tournament and one unlikely to be matched. He remains at the helm of a crop of players whose hunger for success knows no limits.
Japan’s hopes of making history in Qatar were dashed by a penalty shoot-out defeat, following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Croatia in the Round of 16. Prior to that, the Asian outfit had run out Group E winners, in a section which featured Germany, Spain and Costa Rica. In 2026, Japan will be chomping at the bit to go one step further.
A legend and fan favourite as a player, his first stint at the national helm came at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, but it proved a baptism of fire, as his side finished rock bottom of Group H behind Belgium, Algeria and Russia. In 2026, they will be looking to kick on with a squad packed full of talent.
Ghana failed to live up to expectations in Qatar, propping up Group H behind Portugal, Korea Republic and Uruguay. After their torrid campaign last time around, Addo stepped down from his position in December of that year. However, the former Borussia Dortmund player and coach returned to his post in March 2024, and by October 2025 had steered his side to World Cup qualification.
Appointed Switzerland boss shortly after Brazil 2014, he steered them to a respectable second place finish in Group E in Russia, finishing runners-up to Brazil. But their 1-0 defeat to Sweden in the last 16 saw the writing on the wall for the Sarajevo-born tactician. In February 2024, he was appointed to an Algerian side returning to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years.
After taking the reins of the Swiss national side in 2021, Yakin guided them impressively through the group stage, finishing runners-up behind Brazil. The European outfit squeezed past Serbia 3-2 in their final group match, delivering one of the most talked-about games in Qatar. However, their joy was short-lived, as they found themselves on the receiving end of a 6-1 hiding from Portugal in the last 16.