A world player in the steppe and more: World Cup coaches to know

A world player in the steppe and more: World Cup coaches to know When two nations face each other at a World Cup, it’s always also a duel between the coaches. Who has the better tactical trick? And who brings on the decisive joker? More often than not, coaching performances decide victory and defeat — and with them, progression or elimination. That will be no different at the 2026 World Cup. Star coaches like Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann, Carlo Ancelotti, and Luis de la Fuente will do everything they can to lead their teams to the title.  But since everything has already been said about those names, we’d rather focus on the stories that may still be flying a little under the radar at the moment — completely unjustly so! Because you should definitely know the following coaching constellations before the tournament begins. Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay) You read that right: the tireless Marcelo Bielsa, who has been working as a coach for an incredible 39 years, will still be going strong in 2026. Since 2023, the delightfully mad football fanatic has been in charge of two-time world champions Uruguay. Will the Argentine bring a return to former glory? Graham Potter (Sweden) Just a few years ago, Graham Potter was considered perhaps the hottest coaching prospect in the Premier League. Then Chelsea happened. Now the 51-year-old is in charge of his second home, Sweden. He once led Östersunds FK there from the fourth division to the Allsvenskan and sensationally won the national cup. Dick Advocaat (Curaçao) Perhaps the biggest globetrotter among all coaches has experienced just about everything in his long career. Now Dick Advocaat is heading to the World Cup with the small Caribbean island of Curaçao. Wild: after the Dutchman stepped down in February for personal reasons, he returned to his post in May. Things simply hadn’t clicked between his successor Fred Rutten and the team. Ståle Solbakken (Norway) In Germany, Ståle Solbakken is best known for his unsuccessful spell at 1. FC Köln. But with his native Norway, the 58-year-old is really making waves. The Scandinavians qualified brilliantly for their first World Cup since 1998. In North America, they are even considered dark horses. 📸 FREDRIK VARFJELL - Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Vladimir Petković (Algeria) Vladimir Petković coached the Switzerland national team for a full seven years, from 2014 to 2021. Since 2024, however, he has been on the touchline for Algeria and wants to lead the undeniably talented team around Riyad Mahrez and Ibrahim Maza to a successful World Cup. Julen Lopetegui (Qatar) The former Spain and Real Madrid coach is now working as Qatar’s national team manager. In Group B, Julen Lopetegui will face Switzerland, hosts Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fabio Cannavaro (Uzbekistan) For the first time ever, Uzbekistan will take part in a World Cup in 2026. The Central Asian nation of vast steppes has Fabio Cannavaro to thank for this success in no small part. The 2006 World Cup winner and Ballon d’Or recipient guided the Uzbeks sensationally through qualification. Now it’s your turn: Which coaching stories should definitely be on people’s radar before the World Cup starts? Let us know in the comments! This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.