Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Thursday, June 11, 2026, 2:13 p.m. / Updated Thursday, June 11, 2026, 2:13 p.m.
The 2026 World Championship, which starts today, from 22:00, with the match between Mexico and South Africa, will not only be the competition of the 48 national teams (a record in the history of the competition!), but also of the coaches, in the race for the supreme title that will be awarded on July 19.
Even if they cannot be compared to the salaries of the big stars from the final North American tournament, the earnings of those who lead the representative teams spread over 12 series, whether they sit on the bench of the favorites for the trophy or are paid royally by rich federations, are in tune with the financial standing of the competition directed by the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and the head of the United States of America, Donald Trump.
Lionel Scaloni only gets 2.6 million, even though he has 3 trophies!
None of the top ten selectors from the 2026 World Cup earns less than 200,000 euros net annually. But it is surprising that the coach of the titular champion does not even get a place among the top ten: he is only in the 14th position, being worse paid than the coach of the national team of Qatar, Paraguay, Mexico or Canada!
Lionel Scaloni (right) and Lionel Messi / photo: Imago Images
Lionel Scaloni (48 years old) receives only 2.3 million euros. Inversely proportional to the successful performances with Argentina, with which he conquered the Copa America twice (2020-2021 and 2023-2024) plus the Finalissima (2021-2022), the equivalent of the Intercontinental Cup for the national teams, being one of the longest-serving selectors (he will be eight years old in August).
According to Football Finance, there are four coaches ahead of Scaloni in the Top 10: the Spaniard Julen Lopetegui (Qatar, 2.4 million), the Argentine Gustafo Alfaro (Paraguay), the Mexican Javier Aguirre (Mexico) and the American Jesse Marsh (Canada), all with 2.5 million euros.
Second in the Top 10 queue is Ronaldo Koeman (63 years old). The coach of the national team of the Netherlands takes 3 million euros net annually, but he won nothing with the Oranje. The first match in group F, in a week with Japan, will be the 40th of this mandate at the national team, which he led 20 more parties for two and a half years (2018-2020). Koeman ends his contract after the World Cup.
Lionel Scaloni has the 14th salary in the top of the WC 2026 selectors. Rudi Garcia (Belgium) is only the 25th / Photo: Football Finance
The eighth in the ranking is Marcelo Bielsa (70 years old). “El Loco”, who trained the Argentine national team for six years, is on the technical bench of Uruguay from May 2023. One of the six Argentine national team players from this World Cup has a salary of 3.5 million euros.
The 2018 world champion will end his cycle with France
Bielsa won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics with Argentina U23 and finished in second place at the Copa America (2004) with the Albiceleste first team. His contract expires after the World Cup.
Seventh in the salary hierarchy is Didier Deschamps, with 3.8 million euros received from the French federation. The 57-year-old coach ends this summer a long run that began in 2012 with Les Bleus, in which he won the ultimate title at the 2018 WC (he also has the world trophy as a player in 1998) and the Nations League in 2020-2021.
Didier Deschamps and two members of his staff, after the triumph at the World Championship in Russia (2018) // PHOTO: Getty Images
Just above DD is the first Italian of the three on the North American tour. Fabio Cannavaro (52 years old), who took over the national team of Uzbekistan (qualified for the first time at the World Cup) eight months ago, has a basic salary of 4 million euros. The former Ballon d'Or winner's commitment in 2026, when he became world champion, runs until July 31.
On the same level, up to 4.5 million euros with bonuses, Roberto Martinez (52 years old) is in sixth place. The Spanish coach has been in charge of the Portugal national team since January 2023 and his debut at the 2026 World Cup will bring him his 40th game on the Lusitanian bench.
He did not reach the final with Belgium and is trying to do so at the helm of Cristiano Ronaldo's team. It is not known if it will continue after July 31.
Thomas Tuchel is paid 500,000 euros net per month to bring the England national team their second world title
The step to the luxury box of the selectors means a significant level up. Thomas Tuchel, also 52, collects about 6 million euros per year from the England national teamand the mandate that started on January 1, 2025 ends on July 31, 2028, after the next European term.
Thomas Tuchel announced the final squad for the 2026 World Cup // PHOTO: Getty Images
Winner of the Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup with Chelsea, the German coach has the mission to bring the title after a break of six decades!
The US national team, one of the hosts of the competition, has a higher salary. The Argentine Mauricio Poechettino (54 years old) was named by the Americans in October 2024 and his adventure can end on July 31. When could he return to Europe, being courted by AC Milan.
Carlo Ancelotti has the highest salary, 10 million euros, with the Brazilians, who renewed his contract until 2030!
The “silver medal” goes to Julian Nagelsmann. By far the youngest coach at this World Cup (38 years old), the German has almost three years in charge of Germany and his cycle should continue until the summer of 2028.
Carlo Ancelotti has 12 matches for the Brazilian national team / Photo: X
The German earns 7 million euros, although he is not recommended by who knows what performances: one title and two German Supercups with Bayern.
And we got to the highest paid coach. Leader also in trophies won in the Champions League (5), Carlo Ancelotti convinced the Brazilians in a single year after leaving Real Madrid not only to give him 10 million euros, but to extend his commitment until after the next World Cup!
