England and Belgium advance to World Cup quarter-finals with foreign coaches

England and Belgium, under German Thomas Tuchel and French Rudi Garcia respectively, have advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. For the first time since 1978, two foreign managers are competing at this stage of a World Cup.

Scraper SystemJuly 09, 2026, 10:43 AM

England and Belgium advance to World Cup quarter-finals with foreign coaches

The 2026 World Cup shows that having a foreign manager at the helm of a national team is no longer an exception. While 27 teams started the tournament with foreign coaches, only England and Belgium among the eight quarter-finalists have foreign managers in charge. England, led by German Thomas Tuchel, and Belgium, coached by French Rudi Garcia, have become the first foreign managers to reach this stage since 1978.

England's Tuchel appointment

England, having previously failed to achieve the desired success with Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello, turned a new page by bringing in German Thomas Tuchel on the foundation built by Gareth Southgate. Tuchel led the 'Three Lions' to the quarter-finals by eliminating the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mexico. England's opponent will be Norway, who pulled off a major surprise by knocking out Brazil in the round of 16.

Brazil's long-term plan

Meanwhile, Brazil took a historic step by appointing Italian Carlo Ancelotti. However, the five-time world champion 'Seleção' has yet to make the expected breakthrough under Ancelotti. Despite this, the Brazilian Football Confederation showed its confidence in the project by extending Ancelotti's contract until the next World Cup before the tournament.

Belgium's foreign coach legacy

Belgium, on the other hand, is no stranger to foreign coaches. The Red Devils, who achieved their best-ever finish (third place) with Spaniard Roberto Martinez in 2018, have now turned a new page with Frenchman Rudi Garcia. Garcia's charges advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating host USA with a clear 4-1 scoreline and will now face Spain.

National pride and changing attitudes

According to writer Simon Kuper, the belief that a national team coach should be local is closely tied to concepts of national pride and authenticity. In a statement to Reuters, Kuper said, 'The World Cup is not just about winning as many matches as possible; it is also about showcasing your country's football culture. That extends to the coach himself.' He noted that many people view the choice of a foreign coach as 'akin to cheating' or an 'unoriginal' approach.

The impact of globalized football

However, globalization has brought football styles closer together. Kuper said that one can now speak of an 'international style' based on intense physical effort, positional interchange, and organized team play. Emphasizing that major federations are more open to the foreign coach option when traditional methods fail to bring success, Kuper said, 'As England did first with Eriksson and then Capello, it is an admission that the existing model is no longer working.' He added that such decisions are easier to make especially in times of crisis, but in the end most people accept the change.

The 2026 World Cup will not only determine a champion; it will also shape the future of one of football's most deep-rooted traditions: Should the national team be entrusted only to its own sons, or should success be the sole criterion?

England and Belgium advance to World Cup quarter-finals with foreign coaches