The World Cup record that will be broken three tim...
Key takeaways
- The record for the oldest coach at a World Cup will change hands no fewer than three times during this summer's competition.
- Right now, the most senior figure to have ever led a team from the sidelines at soccer's showpiece event is Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 when he took charge of Greece for the 2010 World Cup.
- During the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup, it became clear that Rehhagal -- now 87 years old, and long retired from the dugout -- was going to lose his record.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The record for the oldest coach at a World Cup will change hands no fewer than three times during this summer's competition.
Right now, the most senior figure to have ever led a team from the sidelines at soccer's showpiece event is Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 when he took charge of Greece for the 2010 World Cup. The German's tenure from 2001 and 2010 included masterminding the nation's shock 2004 European Championship triumph, and the World Cup in South Africa marked the end of his international career.
During the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup, it became clear that Rehhagal -- now 87 years old, and long retired from the dugout -- was going to lose his record. But there were some unexpected twists and turns along the way.