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France’s 2018 World Cup-winning coach, Didier Deschamps, announced on Wednesday that he will step down from his role after the 2026 tournament in North America.
France’s 2018 World Cup-winning coach, Didier Deschamps, announced on Wednesday that he will step down from his role after the 2026 tournament in North America.
“It will be 2026,” Deschamps told French broadcaster TF1. “I’ve been in this role since 2012, and I plan to stay until the next World Cup.”
“It will end there because it has to end at some point. It’s clear in my mind,” he added.
Deschamps, 56, led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and guided the team to the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they were defeated by Argentina on penalties.
Following that heartbreaking loss in Doha, the French Football Federation rewarded Deschamps with a contract extension through to 2026. However, this decision was not universally welcomed, and criticism grew after last year’s European Championship, where France failed to fully impress and were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual winners Spain.
Deschamps also faced challenges at the end of 2024, particularly with the controversy surrounding the omission of captain Kylian Mbappe from the squad. Mbappe had a difficult start to his time at Real Madrid, and unconfirmed reports in Sweden suggested he was the subject of a rape allegation after visiting Stockholm, though the investigation was later dropped.
“All good things come to an end, and you need to know when to stop,” Deschamps said during a press event in Bordeaux on Wednesday.
“It’s been 12 years, and it will have been 14, which is enough. I’ve done my time, and I still have time left.”
With the question of his future now resolved, Deschamps can shift his focus to France’s objectives on the pitch over the next 18 months.
Zidane Waiting in the Wings?
Zinedine Zidane, who won the 1998 World Cup as a player alongside Deschamps, has long been seen as the favorite to eventually take over as coach. Now 52, Zidane has been waiting since ending his second stint as coach of Real Madrid in 2021. One of France’s greatest players, he won the Champions League three times with Madrid but has not managed any other club.
“Nobody is irreplaceable,” admitted Deschamps. “I’ve tried to be as indispensable as possible with the results you know, but that is behind us now.”
Zidane’s name will continue to be linked to the France national team in the coming months, as they prepare for their upcoming matches, beginning with a two-legged Nations League quarter-final in March against Croatia.
