Deschamps, who led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup, said goodbye after Saturday’s third-place match against England.
Published July 18, 2026
Didier Deschamps will end his remarkable 14-year reign as France manager on Saturday when Les Bleus take on England in the World Cup third-place decider.
Waiting in the wings is Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps’ former teammate and one of the greatest French players of all time.
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Deschamps, 57, was determined to end his contract by leading Les Bleus to their third World Cup victory after a glittering career as player and manager.
France justified their status as favorites to win the 2026 tournament with a series of commanding attacks, but suffered an uphill battle against Spain in the semi-finals.
A heartbreaking 2-0 loss in Arlington, Texas ended their chances of advancing to a third consecutive World Cup final, leaving them chasing bronze.
Characteristically, Deschamps does not expect an emotional farewell.
“It was an honor to experience some magical moments and some difficult ones,” he said on the eve of the game.
“But life goes on and I’m a positive person so I know things will work out.
“This is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Deschamps: The man who changed France
Deschamps will forever be remembered as the driving force behind France’s brilliant 2018 World Cup campaign, 20 years after captaining the team to their first world championship.
In 2010, the French national team was in a slump when they were eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage, with their activities marred by the team’s revolt against then-coach Raymond Domenech.
Laurent Blanc took the team to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012, but Deschamps truly transformed the team, leading France to victory in Russia 2018 and catapulting Kylian Mbappé to global stardom.
There have also been painful disappointments, such as losing to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final on home soil and losing on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final.
Tuesday’s loss to Spain in the semifinals was especially painful considering France’s intimidating appearance in the United States. However, Deschamps can be proud of having led his team to at least the semi-finals in five of the seven major competitions he has been in charge of.
When asked at the beginning of this tournament about the secret to his consistent success, he replied:
“But I can’t do my job too badly.”
Deschamps has spent the past year reshaping France, pivoting away from the more conservative approach that has delivered results in the past.
He was often criticized for not playing more powerful games with the talent at his disposal, but at Euro 2024 the French international scored just four goals in six games.
Deschamps gave star forwards Mbappé, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Oliseh freedom of expression, but he may regret not being more cautious against Spain.
The World Cup he was in charge of was also overshadowed by the death of his mother, and he missed one game as he returned home for a funeral.
Open secret: Zidane is coming
The game against England will be Deschamps’ 27th World Cup game, a record. After that, it will be time for new challenges.
It’s no secret that Zidane, who showed off his unique aura against France, will be the team’s next manager.
The former Real Madrid player and teammate of Deschamps at the 1998 World Cup has been preparing for the role since leaving Real in 2021.
Zidane, 54, previously admitted it had been his “dream” to manage the French national team, and it looks like it could soon become a reality.
“There are not many people who can lead the world’s biggest national team,” Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, told newspaper Le Figaro earlier this year.
“He has to be someone who ticks all the boxes and who everyone in France can support.”
Zidane may be the chosen one, but he has a lot to answer for.
