France’s head coach, Didier Deschamps, will step down from his role at the end of his contract following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a source close to the team confirmed on Tuesday.
Deschamps, 56, has had a historic tenure as Les Bleus’ manager, steering the team to victory in the 2018 World Cup and becoming one of only three individuals to win the tournament as both a player and a coach. He first took charge of the national team in 2012, succeeding Laurent Blanc, and has since led France to three major finals, including the Euro 2016 final, the 2018 World Cup triumph, and the 2022 World Cup final, where they lost to Argentina in a dramatic penalty shootout.
The former midfielder captained France to their first-ever World Cup victory on home soil in 1998 and also lifted the UEFA Euro 2000 trophy. As coach, Deschamps has set the record for the longest-serving manager in France’s football history, a testament to his remarkable consistency and success at the helm.
European qualification for the 2026 World Cup—set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada—will begin later this year, marking the start of Deschamps’ final journey with the team.
The announcement has sparked speculation about potential successors, with names such as Zinedine Zidane frequently mentioned as a strong candidate for the position.
Deschamps’ legacy, both as a player and coach, has firmly cemented him as one of football’s all-time greats, and his departure will mark the end of a golden era for French football.
