Carlo Ancelotti tops list of highest-paid 2026 World Cup coaches
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Carlo Ancelotti is the highest-paid World Cup coach on a €10m annual salary.
- Germany's Julian Nagelsmann and USA's Mauricio Pochettino complete the top three.
- Five World Cup coaches earn at least €4m per year during the tournament.
New research from Gambling.com, which ranks and compares leading UK gambling websites, has revealed the annual salaries of the tournament's best-paid international coaches.
The figures highlight just how highly football federations value elite coaching experience on the biggest stage.
With several World Cup winners, Champions League-winning coaches and some of football's most respected tacticians featuring in the rankings, Brazil's new head coach stands alone at the summit.
Carlo Ancelotti earns €10m to lead Brazil
Fresh from taking charge of Brazil, Ancelotti commands an annual salary of €10 million, making him comfortably the highest-paid coach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The Italian has enjoyed one of the most decorated coaching careers in football history, winning domestic league titles across Europe and lifting the UEFA Champions League on multiple occasions.
His appointment underlines Brazil's determination to return to the top of world football.
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Nagelsmann and Pochettino complete the top three
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann ranks second with an annual salary of €7 million.Having previously coached Bayern Munich, the 38-year-old remains one of the most highly regarded young coaches in world football.
USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino takes third place on €6 million per year. The Argentine guided the United States through an impressive start to the tournament before suffering a surprise defeat to Turkey in the group stage.
England manager Thomas Tuchel narrowly misses out on the top three, earning €5.8 million annually. The former Chelsea boss arrived with a reputation for delivering success at the highest level and remains one of international football's highest earners.
Portugal and Uzbekistan share fifth place
Two coaches are tied on €4 million per year.Portugal coach Roberto Martínez occupies one of those positions.
Sharing fifth place is Fabio Cannavaro, who is currently in charge of Uzbekistan.
Deschamps, Koeman and Bielsa feature in the top ten
France head coach Didier Deschamps, who led Les Bleus to World Cup glory in 2018, earns €3.8 million annually. Given his remarkable achievements in international football, his salary appears modest compared with several of his peers.Joint eighth are Ronald Koeman of the Netherlands and Uruguay's Marcelo Bielsa, both earning €3 million per year.
Koeman successfully guided the Dutch to the top of their group, whilst Bielsa has once again attracted attention for his demanding coaching methods during Uruguay's campaign.
Aguirre rounds off the rankings
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre completes the top ten with an annual salary of €2.5 million.His side justified that investment by winning all three of their group matches to secure an impressive place in the knockout stages.
| Rank | Coach | Nation | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlo Ancelotti | Brazil | €10m |
| 2 | Julian Nagelsmann | Germany | €7m |
| 3 | Mauricio Pochettino | USA | €6m |
| 4 | Thomas Tuchel | England | €5.8m |
| 5 | Roberto Martínez | Portugal | €4m |
| 5 | Fabio Cannavaro | Uzbekistan | €4m |
| 7 | Didier Deschamps | France | €3.8m |
| 8 | Ronald Koeman | Netherlands | €3m |
| 8 | Marcelo Bielsa | Uruguay | €3m |
| 10 | Javier Aguirre | Mexico | €2.5m |
Experience still commands the biggest salaries
The rankings demonstrate that proven success at club and international level remains the biggest factor in determining coaching salaries.Whilst younger coaches such as Nagelsmann continue to command premium wages, seasoned winners including Ancelotti, Tuchel and Deschamps remain among football's highest-paid figures thanks to their extensive track records.
As the World Cup progresses, attention will now turn to whether these elite coaches can justify their salaries by leading their nations deep into the tournament.
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