AS THE Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) builds up to hosting a World Cup on the North American continent in 2026, followers of English football may recognise some of the names coaching in the region.

Mauricio Pochettino became the latest figure with connections to the English leagues to join the World Cup preparations in Concacaf, taking on the considerable task of ensuring the United States are at least competitive in the 2026 tournament they will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico.

One of the more intriguing moves is Jamaica’s recent appointment of former Middlesbrough and England manager Steve McLaren, who rose to prominence as a coach at Manchester United under Alex Ferguson after a successful stint with Derby.