France coach Didier Deschamps is set to leave his role with the national team following Les Bleus’ exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 57-year-old’s hopes of winning the tournament for a third time, having lifted the trophy as a player in 1998 and as a coach in 2018, ended after France’s 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain on Tuesday.
Deschamps had already announced in January 2025 that he would step down after the tournament. His final match in charge will be against the loser of the England versus Argentina semi-final in Miami on July 18.
Reflecting on France’s exit, Deschamps said it was not the time to focus on his departure.
“It’s not time to talk about the future.
“It is not important on a personal level whether I leave a competition in a semi-final or final.
“I am extremely happy. I am very proud of everything we’ve done to reach this stage and to win a World Cup – to take the French team to the highest level.
“I have been lucky as a player. I have enjoyed happy moments. Today is not such a moment. We must accept it without forgetting everything we experienced.”
Deschamps is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager, alongside Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
He took charge of France after Euro 2012 and guided the team to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, the final of Euro 2016, victory at the 2018 World Cup, the round of 16 at Euro 2020, the final of the 2022 World Cup and the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
As a player, Deschamps earned 103 caps for France between 1989 and 2000 and captained the national team to victory at Euro 2000 before retiring from international football.
Former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane is expected to succeed Deschamps as head coach of the French national team.
