National football federations are spending millions in their pursuit of World Cup glory, with Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti emerging as the highest-paid coach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to salary figures compiled ahead of the tournament, Ancelotti earns an annual salary of £8.28 million, placing him comfortably ahead of his counterparts at the competition.
The former Real Madrid manager, who took charge of Brazil in a landmark appointment, is expected to lead the South American giants’ bid for a record-extending sixth World Cup title.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is the second-highest earner on the list with an annual salary of £5.06 million.
The German coach was appointed by the Football Association following England’s near misses under former manager Gareth Southgate and is tasked with ending the country’s long wait for major international success.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino ranks third, earning £4.53 million annually. The Argentine manager, who previously coached Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, is expected to spearhead the host nation’s campaign at the tournament.
Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann occupies fourth place with a salary of £4.2 million per year, while Portugal coach Roberto Martinez and Uzbekistan’s Fabio Cannavaro are tied in fifth place on £3.5 million annually.
Cannavaro’s inclusion among the highest earners has drawn attention, given Uzbekistan’s status as one of the tournament’s less established football nations. The former Italy captain was appointed after the Central Asian nation secured qualification for its first-ever World Cup.
France manager Didier Deschamps, who guided his country to World Cup success in 2018, earns £3.31 million per year and sits seventh on the list.
World Cup-winning Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa and Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman complete the top 10, with each earning £2.61 million annually.
As reported by Planet Football on Thursday, these are the highest-paid coaches at the 2026 World Cup.
Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil) – £8.28m
Thomas Tuchel (England) – £5.06m
Mauricio Pochettino (USA) – £4.53m
Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) – £4.20m
Roberto Martinez (Portugal) – £3.50m
Fabio Cannavaro (Uzbekistan) – £3.50m
Didier Deschamps (France) – £3.31m
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) – £2.61m
Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay) – £2.61m
Ronald Koeman (Netherlands) – £2.61m
The rankings underscore the growing financial investment being made by football federations as they seek to secure elite managerial talent capable of delivering success on the world’s biggest football stage.
