The FIFA World Cup not only showcases emerging talents but also offers a platform to honor enduring figures in soccer, both players and coaches, especially with the 2026 tournament approaching.
This year’s competition will see the title of the oldest coach in World Cup history change hands at least three times.
Currently, the oldest coach to ever oversee a team at the World Cup is Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years old when he led Greece during the 2010 tournament in South Africa. His impressive 2001-2010 tenure included the remarkable achievement of guiding Greece to victory in the 2004 European Championship, and the World Cup marked the conclusion of his international coaching career.
As the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup unfolded, it became clear that Rehhagel—now 87 and long retired—would relinquish his record. However, there were some unexpected developments along the way.
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Dick Advocaat
Dutch coach Dick Advocaat made history by guiding the Caribbean island of Curaçao to World Cup qualification, marking the smallest nation by population (just over 150,000) to achieve this feat. His journey also seems poised to enter the history books.
Widely respected, Advocaat has taken the helm of several national teams, including the Netherlands, South Korea, Russia, and Iraq. Now at 78 years old, he makes Rehhagel’s age in 2010 seem youthful.
Interestingly, Advocaat wasn’t the oldest coach to participate in World Cup qualification. Romania‘s Mircea Lucescu was 80 years old during a playoff match against Türkiye, a game that ended in loss. Tragically, Lucescu, a well-known figure from his 12-year tenure with Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, passed away shortly after.
Just as the record updates were being finalized, Advocaat unexpectedly resigned as Curaçao’s coach in February due to his daughter’s health issues, suggesting former PSV Eindhoven manager Fred Rutten as his successor.
Rutten, who is 63, faced difficulties adjusting to his new team, leading to losses against China and a significant defeat to Australia during March friendlies. However, once Advocaat’s daughter’s health improved, he resumed his coaching role shortly before the tournament, as Rutten stepped down amicably.
Advocaat will join the ranks of veteran coaches at the 2026 World Cup, with two others set to briefly hold the record for the oldest coach before his Curaçao team faces Germany on June 14.
Hugo Broos
The tournament kicks off on June 11 with a match featuring hosts Mexico against South Africa in Mexico City. South Africa will be managed by the passionate Belgian Hugo Broos, who is 74 years old, having been born on April 10, 1952.
Broos has been in charge of South Africa since 2021, leading the team to a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Yet, some of his player selection choices faced criticism following last year’s round-of-16 exit against Cameroon.
Broos was also in charge when South Africa faced a penalty due to fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, resulting in a three-point deduction. Nevertheless, South Africa finished atop their group, edging past Nigeria, securing Broos’s path to the record.
Miroslav Koubek
Broos will hold the title of oldest coach for just a few hours until the match between South Korea and Czechia
Koubek’s entry into the race for oldest coach is relatively late, having stepped in to salvage Czechia’s qualification campaign. He was appointed in December after the team faced a shocking 2-1 loss to the Faroe Islands, subsequently steering Czechia through the UEFA playoffs with victories over the Republic of Ireland and Denmark in penalty shootouts. A modest figure, Koubek seemed astonished by his newfound status when he heard of Advocaat’s departure, remarking, “I was informed that Dick Advocaat will not go; he has stepped down, so I will be the oldest. So what?” He may feel more relieved than regretful to be the record holder for a brief period. Veteran players are also preparing to take the field, including renowned goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, now 40, who will be participating in his sixth World Cup. Scotland’s goalkeeper Craig Gordon is even older at 43, having been selected for Steve Clarke’s squad. However, neither keeper will set a new record. That honor belongs to Egypt’s Essam El Hadary, who played at the 2018 World Cup at the age of 45 years and 161 days. Similarly, Colombia’s Faryd Mondragón appeared in the 2014 tournament just days after his 43rd birthday. If either of them embark on coaching careers, we may see one of them breaking records as they lead a team to World Cup qualification in 2052.