Didier Deschamps to Step Down After 2026 World Cup

Wednesday 08 January 2025 - 15:34

Didier Deschamps, the current head coach of the French national football team, will leave his position following the 2026 World Cup, marking the end of his current contract. If France qualifies for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, he will depart after the competition. Otherwise, he will step down after the qualification campaign ends.

Deschamps, who led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup, emphasized that his decision to step down is clear in his mind. "In 2026, it will be over. In my mind, it’s very clear. I’ve done my time with the same desire and passion to keep France at the highest level, but 2026 is a very good time to stop," Deschamps stated. He also added, "You have to know when to say stop. There is life after this. The most important thing is that France remains at the top as it has for many years."

The front-runner to replace Deschamps is Zinedine Zidane, former Real Madrid coach and a three-time consecutive Champions League winner. Zidane, 52, was also a former teammate of Deschamps on the French national team.

At 56, Deschamps took over as the French head coach in 2012, following Laurent Blanc’s departure. During his tenure, he achieved unprecedented success, including winning the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 Nations League, and reaching the finals of the 2016 European Championship and 2022 World Cup, as well as the semifinals of the 2024 European Championship.