With the countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 gathering pace, FIFA has spotlighted a compelling subplot ahead of the tournament in North America: experience on the touchline.

According to FIFA, fourteen coaches preparing for the global finals have previously led teams at the World Cup, a blend of decorated champions, seasoned tacticians, and returning strategists eager for another shot at glory.

Among them are two World Cup-winning coaches, Didier Deschamps and Lionel Scaloni, while veterans such as Javier Aguirre and Marcelo Bielsa trace their World Cup managerial journeys back to 2002.

FIFA notes that while experience can provide tactical depth and psychological maturity, it does not guarantee success. Nor does a lack of World Cup pedigree eliminate the possibility of a breakthrough.