France coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed he will step down from his role after the 2026 World Cup, with Zinedine Zidane reportedly the favorite to take over.
Deschamps joined Les Bleus in 2012 after years of turmoil in the national team, steadied the ship and re-established France as one of the dominant forces in world football, winning the 2018 World Cup and reaching final in 2022.
2026 will be Deschamps’ last chance to add to that success as the boss has confirmed he will let his contract expire and leave after the tournament.
“I have been here since 2012 and I will stay until 2026 and the next World Cup,” he said TF1. “But it will end there because it has to. It’s clear in my mind. 2026, that’s fine.
“You never want something to end well, but you have to know when to stop. There is life after this, I don’t know which one, but it will still be very good. Fourteen years is a long time. The most important thing is that France stays at the top as it has been for several year.”
L’Equipewho state that Deschamps made his decision several months ago, believes Zidane is the leading candidate to take over in 2026. He is a former coach of Real Madrid known to want to take charge of Les Bleus after years of speculation.
Thierry Henry, who resigned as France U-21 coach in the summer, is also seen as a possible candidate.
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