sports
More National Teams Open World Cup With Foreign Coaches
Twenty-seven countries began the 2026 World Cup with a foreign coach, compared with nine four years earlier. Two of those teams reached the quarterfinals.
Jul 9, 3:15 AM·1m read1 source
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Twenty-seven national teams opened the 2026 World Cup with a foreign coach, up from nine four years ago, The Japan Times reported. The increase marks a shift for major soccer nations that have traditionally viewed the tournament as an expression of national identity.
Two teams led by foreign coaches advanced to the quarterfinals. Only those two remain in contention to become the first foreign coach to win the tournament.
The last time a foreign coach led a team to the final was in 1978, when an Austrian coach guided the Netherlands to a loss against Argentina. England previously tried foreign coaches without reaching the final. Brazil appointed an Italian coach a year ago to begin rebuilding its national team.
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