CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 31: Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of United States, looks on prior to the international friendly match between United States and Senegal at Bank of America Stadium on May 31, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
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United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino has drawn plenty of headlines for being linked to jobs in European club football next season even before the World Cup begins.
That can be jarring for American soccer fans and American sports fans in general, who are accustomed to stability among the coaching elite. But in the soccer world, it’s not all that unusual for managers to look at an upcoming World Cup as a natural end to their tenure, regardless of the tournament outcome.
Here are 10 other 2026 World Cup managers who are out of contact once the tournament ends in July. This list isn’t necessarily all-inclusive, and obviously, it doesn’t account for the managers who might be guaranteed beyond the tournament but could face early termination with a poor team performance.
Dick Advocaat
Curaçao
WILLEMSTAD – Curacao coach Dick Advocaat steps off the team bus during a training session of the Curacao football team at the Ergilio Hato stadium on June 1 (local time) in Willemstad, Curacao. The Curacao football team is preparing for the World Cup qualifying matches against Barbados and Aruba. ANP | Hollandse Hoogte | GERRIT VAN COLOGNE (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
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The legendary Dutch manager is playing with house money in what could very well be his final salvo. After helping the tiny Caribbean nation become the smallest to qualify for a World Cup in tournament history, he had stepped away from the role to care for his ailing daughter. But with her health improved, and with the Blue Wave struggling in preperatory friendlies, the 78-year-old has returned to the role just in time for their arrival on the big stage.
Javier Aguirre
Mexico
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MARCH 04: Head coach Javier Aguirre of Mexican National Team smiles during a press conference at CAR on March 04, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)
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Aguirre took the helm of El Tri for a third time following their elimination from the 2024 Copa America in the group stage, and eventually returned the outfit to the continental success its fans expect with wins in the 2025 Concacaf Nations League and 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. He is widely expected to move on regardless of how Mexico fares as a tournament co-host.
Marcelo Bielsa
Uruguay
Uruguay’s fnational football team coach, Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, greets fans during a farewell activity with children ahead of the departure of the squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, at the Tito Lopez Lopez stadium in Pando, Canelones department, Uruguay on June 5, 2026. (Photo by Dante FERNANDEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
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Bielsa is one of the most influential tacticians in world football history. But as an Argentine coaching the rival nation on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, his tenure in charge of La Celeste has always felt a little bit uneasy. Uruguay qualified for 2026 relatively comfortably from CONMEBOL and earned a respectable third-place showing at the 2024 Copa América. Yet with Bielsa now 70 years old, this feels like the natural end of his tenure, and maybe his storied career.
Zlatko Dalić
Croatia
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 31: Head coach Zlatko Dali of Croatia before a match against Brazil at Camping World Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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While Luka Modrić has gotten a lot of credit for the success of the Croatian program over the last two World Cups, the federation is plenty appreciative of what Dalić has accomplished. He enters his third World Cup at the helm having led the Balkan upstarts to the 2018 final and the 2022 semifinals. And although the current talent pool may be undergoing a generational transition, it’s plenty possible the Croatian federation brings him back for another cycle even if the 2026 results are more modest.
Didier Deschamps
France
France’s head coach Didier Deschamps reacts from the sidelines during the international friendly football match between France and Ivory Coast ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup football tournament at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, western France, on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP via Getty Images)
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Deschamps is the longest-tenured manager at the tournament and has already indicated he will be stepping down when it’s over. And even if his fourth World Cup at the helm of Les Bleus goes sideways, he will depart with one heck of a resume that includes the 2018 World Cup triumph and two other major finals appearances (Euro 2016, 2018 World Cup).
Ronald Koeman
Netherlands
DORTMUND, GERMANY – JULY 10: Ronald Koeman, Head Coach of the Netherlands, consoles Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands after the team’s defeat in the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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Koeman has managed across an impressive range of clubs, but he has hinted recently he may never return to club football. If that’s the case, it’s possible a strong performance in North America could convince the 63-year-old to extend his international managing career. But he’s still looking for a signature moment with the Clockwork Orange, with a 2018-19 finish as runners up in the UEFA Nations League his best achievement so far.
Roberto Martinez
Portugal
HAMBURG, GERMANY – JULY 05: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is consoled by Roberto Martinez, Head Coach of Portugal, following the team’s defeat in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between Portugal and France at Volksparkstadion on July 05, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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While other managers have struggled to manage Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence on the Portuguese national team later in his career, Martinez has leaned into what the aging star can still produce in front of goal. The now-41-year-old led his side in qualifying with five goals in five appearances, with only one of those coming from the penalty spot. But with Ronaldo likely in his final World Cup, Martinez could be set to move on as well, regardless of the results.
Carlos Queiroz
Ghana
CARDIFF, WALES – JUNE 02: Carlos Queiroz manager / head coach of Ghana during the international friendly match between Wales and Ghana at Cardiff City Stadium on June 02, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
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This will be Queiroz’s fourth World Cup at the helm of a competing side, with the other three coming in Iran’s previous three appearances. And just like his return to Iran for the 2022 tournament, he took charge of the Black Stars as an emergency replacement this April after Otto Addo’s dismissal. Technically, Ghana has an option to extend the 73-year-old based on team performance, and that could happen with a strong showing in one of the tournament’s toughest groups.
Lionel Scaloni
Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – DECEMBER 20: Lionel Messi of Argentina (L) and Lionel Scaloni (R) holds the FIFA World Cup during the arrival of the Argentina men’s national football team after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on December 20, 2022 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
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Scaloni accomplished what those before him managing the Albiceleste could not, crafting a national team system that could truly harness Lionel Messi’s talents to drive team success. Yet even if Messi, now 38, goes on to lead the Argentines to a second consecutive World Cup title in 2026, this is probably the end of the line for Scaloni, since it’s also likely to be Messi’s final international chapter.
Ralf Rangnick
Austria
BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 21: Christoph Baumgartner of Austria celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Ralf Rangnick, Head Coach of Austria, during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Poland and Austria at Olympiastadion on June 21, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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Known as the godfather of the modern high press, Rangnick had managed mainly in the German pro game before taking charge of Austria for the entirety of the 2026 cycle. Most famously, he helped establish the identify of the Red Bull football group both as a manager and sporting director at its parent club, RB Leipzig. Presming he wishes to return to the club game, he will have plenty of suitors, and he’s already been connected with AC Milan, the same club that had reportedly reached out to Pochettino’s representatives about their summer vacancy.
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