All 48 national team benches after the 2026 World Cup: 20 coaching changes in two months

International football is back with a major shake-up on the touchlines. Barely two months after Spain won the 2026 World Cup, 20 of the 48 teams that took part in the tournament have changed head coach, which accounts for 41% of the field. The new international window arrives packed with fresh faces and legendary names leading projects that are just getting started.

• 20 of the 48 World Cup teams have appointed a new coach since the tournament ended.
• Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia, Belgium, Uruguay and Mexico turn to top names such as Klopp, Xavi, Jesús, Van Bommel, Bilic, Forlán and Márquez.
• Spain, Argentina, Brazil, England and the United States keep their managers: De la Fuente, Scaloni, Ancelotti, Tuchel and Pochettino.
• Four Spanish coaches take charge of national teams: Xavi, Robert Moreno, Santi Denia and David Badía.
• Italy, despite missing the World Cup, brings back Roberto Mancini after Baldini's spell as interim boss.

National teams with new coaches: 20 teams start a new era

The wave of changes hits historic national teams especially hard. Germany says goodbye to Julian Nagelsmann and opens the Jürgen Klopp era, making him the most high-profile coach to take over a national bench at the start of this new cycle. The Netherlands moves on from Ronald Koeman and hands the job to Xavi Hernández, while Portugal closes the Roberto Martínez chapter and bets on Jorge Jesus.

France goes through a long-awaited transition: Didier Deschamps ends his lengthy spell and gives way to Zinedine Zidane. Croatia replaces Zlatko Dalic with Slaven Bilic, a change that sends Dalic to the United Arab Emirates. Belgium agrees Rudi Garcia's exit and turns to Mark van Bommel, while Uruguay replaces Marcelo Bielsa with Diego Forlán as interim coach.

In Mexico the expected plan is fulfilled: Javier Aguirre hands over to his assistant Rafa Márquez, and Aguirre himself signs with Valencia. Ecuador makes a major move by appointing Marcelo Gallardo after Sebastián Beccacece's departure, while South Africa replaces Hugo Broos with Pitso Mosimane. Tunisia parts ways with Hervé Renard to bring in Moïn Chaabani, allowing Renard to return to Ivory Coast after Emerson Faé did not renew.

The Spanish presence on international benches

The Spanish footprint in this wave of changes is considerable. Up to four Spanish coaches take on new jobs with national teams. Xavi Hernández is the biggest name as he lands in the Netherlands, a challenge that puts him back on the touchline after his time at Barcelona. Robert Moreno, who led Spain in 2019, takes over South Korea on an interim basis after Hong Myung-bo's dismissal.

Santi Denia, well known for his work with Spain's youth teams between 2010 and 2024, now manages the Czech Republic following Miroslav Koubek's exit. David Badía, a 52-year-old Catalan coach developed at La Masia with experience in Turkey, Cyprus and Poland, takes charge of Haiti after Sébastien Migné left for Gabon.

The coaches who stay put

Despite the bench overhaul, more than half of the World Cup teams keep their manager. The most notable continuity is Luis de la Fuente, who has just extended his deal with Spain until 2032 and will continue to lead the world champions. Lionel Scaloni is close to extending his contract with Argentina, while Carlo Ancelotti extended his agreement with Brazil until 2030 before the tournament.

England keeps faith in Thomas Tuchel, and the United States secures Mauricio Pochettino with a new four-year deal. Other coaches who renew or are confirmed include Tony Popovic at Australia, Néstor Lorenzo at Colombia, Dick Advocaat at Curaçao, Hossam Hassan at Egypt, Mohamed Ouahbi at Morocco, Thomas Christiansen at Panama, Gustavo Alfaro at Paraguay and Vincenzo Montella at Turkey.

Every change at a glance: the full coaching map

These are the specific changes left by the end of the World Cup cycle on the benches:

• Germany: Julian Nagelsmann resigns and is replaced by Jürgen Klopp.
• Algeria: Vladimir Petkovic terminates his contract and Brahim Hemdani takes over.
• Belgium: Rudi Garcia agrees not to renew and Mark van Bommel arrives.
• Cape Verde: Bubista joins Moroccan side Berkane and his assistant Humberto Bettencourt steps up.
• South Korea: Hong Myung-bo is dismissed and Robert Moreno acts as interim coach.
• Ivory Coast: Emerson Faé does not renew and is replaced by Hervé Renard.
• Croatia: Zlatko Dalic leaves and is replaced by Slaven Bilic.
• Ecuador: Sebastián Beccacece's contract ends and Marcelo Gallardo takes over.
• Scotland: Steve Clarke resigns and is replaced by Sébastien Pocognoli.
• France: Didier Deschamps' contract ends and Zinedine Zidane steps in.
• Haiti: Sébastien Migné moves to Gabon and David Badía arrives.
• Jordan: Jamal Sellami is dismissed and replaced by Zaki Badou.
• Mexico: Rafa Márquez, Aguirre's assistant, takes charge as planned.
• Netherlands: Ronald Koeman resigns and Xavi Hernández takes over.
• Portugal: Roberto Martínez's contract ends and Jorge Jesus arrives.
• Czech Republic: Miroslav Koubek is dismissed and Santi Denia steps in.
• Senegal: Pape Thiaw is dismissed and replaced by Patrick Vieira.
• South Africa: Hugo Broos does not renew and is replaced by Pitso Mosimane.
• Tunisia: Hervé Renard is replaced by Moïn Chaabani.
• Uruguay: Marcelo Bielsa resigns and Diego Forlán takes over as interim coach.

Italy, a separate case: Mancini returns despite missing the World Cup

Beyond the World Cup teams, Italy makes one of the most eye-catching moves. The Azzurri, absent from the tournament, bring back Roberto Mancini to replace Gennaro Gattuso. Silvio Baldini served as interim coach from April to July, but the Italian bench returns to the man who won Euro 2020.

What is at stake for the national teams in this new window

The return of international football officially opens the road to the next major tournaments. With qualification campaigns and continental competitions on the horizon, the new coaches will have little time to implement their ideas. For names such as Klopp, Xavi and Zidane, the immediate challenge is to build a clear identity and get off to a strong start in the first matches of the new cycle.