World Cup 2026: The men you must watch out for on the sideline | OneFootball

The World Cup will feature plenty of stars on the field of play this summer.

But they aren't the only people who a lot of eyes will be on as in the dugouts, there are some big names aiming to make their mark with the world watching.

We take a look at some of the most influential figures leading nations to North America this month.

Thomas Tuchel (England)

The German's appointment as England boss was not without controversy when he was drafted in to take over from Gareth Southgate after a successful spell in charge.

An astute and intense operator, he went some way towards silencing any critics by guiding England to qualification with a perfect record and without conceding a single goal.

However, his 26-man squad for this tournament has been met with a wave of heavy criticism for the inclusion of several surprise names and leaving out some who seemed assured of their place on the plane.

The scrutiny on the former Chelsea boss will perhaps be as fierce as any faced by a coach this summer due to those decisions. How will he handle the pressure?

Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil)

One of the most decorated coaches in the history of club football will take his talents to the World Cup stage for the first time as he ventures into international management.

And his first foray into that field could not be filled with more pressure. Not only will he be the first foreign coach to lead the Seleçao in a competitive fixture, he also carries the hopes of a nation who always except success in this tournament, regardless of form or fixtures.

Prior to the competition starting, the Italian icon has already been rewarded with a new contract and he is a popular figure already among both the squad and population.

An excellent knockout tournament tactician, he could perhaps put his hat in the ring for consideration as the greatest coach of all time if he can lead this Brazil side to their sixth star.

Didier Deschamps (France)

The longest-serving coach of any heading to USA, Canada and Mexico, this is set to be the Frenchman's final go at lifting the little gold trophy once more.

He did it as captain in 1998 and repeated the feat as coach in 2018, while also leading Les Bleus to the final in 2022 where they were narrowly edged out by Argentina on penalties after a breathtaking 3-3 draw.

This may be the most exciting crop of players he has ever had at his disposal and despite concerns in his homeland over his pragmatism, you cannot argue with the consistency.

Will he ride off into the sunset and get his perfect ending after a fantastic 14 years in charge?

Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay)

One of the modern coaching greats is back on the global stage and will make Uruguay appointment viewing.

He has inspired everyone from Pep Guardiola to Mauricio Pochettino with his attack-minded philosophy and will lead a third different country to a World Cup with the two-time winners.

The Argentine has also shown that he isn't afraid to make bold and brave calls, having made the decision to omit national hero Luis Suárez from the squad for this summer.

With Bielsa at the helm, there will be fast, free-flowing football and fireworks aplenty. You don't want to miss Uruguay this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino (USA)

When the USMNT pulled off the hiring of Pochettino, it was rightly viewed as a big coup given the work he has done in Europe for well over a decade.

But pulling out all the stops to bring in the Argentine was all with a view to being able to put on a show on home soil with the world watching.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the former Tottenham boss during his time in charge but he is a fascinating man to have leading the USA at the World Cup.

His teams are built on a high energy approach and with a vocal home support leading Pochettino's players on, the hosts will be a very interesting side to keep an eye on.

📸 Alex Pantling - 2026 Getty Images