The 2026 World Cup is not only a stage for star players, but also a proving ground for the world’s elite coaches. Out of the 48 participants that started the tournament, now only four coaches remain in the semifinals. They are Didier Deschamps (France), Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Thomas Tuchel (England), and Lionel Scaloni (Argentina).
Deschamps has once again guided France to the semifinals for three consecutive World Cup editions following 2018 and 2022. That record solidifies his status as one of the most successful coaches in the history of Les Bleus. However, for Deschamps, his team’s success is not just about the tactics he devises. “This is also a human journey. I chose them, and I live with them every day with full happiness,” he said.
He emphasized that, as title favorites, his squad must not become complacent even though they are just two steps away from the title. “In 2018 not many truly expected us to succeed. In 2022 we arrived as defending champions. This time everyone has favored us since before the tournament began,” he stated.
Just like Deschamps, De la Fuente has also successfully made Spain the team with the clearest playing identity in this tournament. Ball possession, high pressing, and the courage to play the younger generation have become De la Fuente’s signature. The performance of Spain under De la Fuente’s management was actually already demonstrated when La Roja won the European Championship and the 2024 Nations League.
From Argentina, Scaloni has once again led his country to the semifinals after winning the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America. However, the Albiceleste’s journey this time was far more dramatic. After an extraordinary comeback against Egypt, Scaloni was not even able to hold back his emotions. After eliminating Switzerland in the quarterfinals, Scaloni again showed honesty in evaluating his team. This is enough to show Scaloni’s character as a coach who does not hesitate to admit his team’s weaknesses despite managing to win.
Unlike Deschamps, De la Fuente, and Scaloni, Tuchel does not yet have a title with the England national team. However, his track record at the club level makes The Three Lions confident facing the semifinals. Tuchel successfully guided England through tough matches against Mexico and Norway. He is known as a coach skilled at reading matches and changing tactical approaches according to the situation. Although he has not made many major statements during the tournament, Tuchel’s approach is visible from England’s success in appearing flexible and remaining calm in crucial moments.
Fading
Behind the success of the four semifinalist team coaches, there are a number of big-name coaches who had to go home early. Roberto Martinez, for instance, failed to take Portugal beyond the Round of 16 after being eliminated by Spain. Nonetheless, he still paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo. “We will always be grateful for what he tried to do in this World Cup. His dream was to win the World Cup and he provided an extraordinary example of leadership,” Martinez said.
The 2026 World Cup also delivered a bitter experience for Carlo Ancelotti. The coach, known as one of the most successful managers in the history of European football, failed to restore Brazil’s glory after the Selecao was eliminated by Norway in the Round of 16. In fact, the arrival of the Italian coach had previously sparked high optimism due to his collection of five Champions League titles and his success with various elite European clubs.
However, Brazil once again failed to penetrate the semifinals for two consecutive World Cup editions. The defeat against Norway showed that extraordinary experience at the club level does not necessarily yield immediate success with a national team. Ancelotti admitted his team failed to capitalize on opportunities. “We have the quality, but in a tournament like this you will be punished when you are unable to utilize the chances,” he said.
A similar fate was experienced by Ronald Koeman. He actually arrived with the capital of leading the Oranje to perform competitively in the UEFA Nations League and the European Championship. However, their journey was halted before reaching the final four. This failure means the Netherlands must once again delay their ambition to end the long wait to capture their first world title. Koeman assessed that his team lacked effectiveness when entering the knockout stage. “We played well during several periods of the match, but at this level you have to be more clinical,” he said.
Murat Yakin also left the tournament with disappointment after Switzerland lost to Argentina in a match marred by Breel Embolo’s red card. “There was no reason for that yellow card. That rule ruins the match and punishes us in an unacceptable way,” Yakin stated.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Ouahbi still received appreciation after bringing Morocco back to the quarterfinals for two consecutive editions. “Whoever the opponent is, our goal remains the same: to reach the semifinals. We will focus on ourselves,” Ouahbi said.
