Deschamps, who guided France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title, will step down after the 2026 tournament in North America.
France’s FIFA World Cup-winning coach, Didier Deschamps, has declared his intention to step down from his position following the 2026 tournament.
Deschamps successfully led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup held in Russia and brought the team to the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they were defeated by Argentina in a penalty shootout. “It will be 2026,” Deschamps stated during an interview with French broadcaster TF1. “I have been in this role since 2012, and it is planned for me to continue until 2026… the next World Cup.”
“It will conclude there because it must come to an end at some point. This is clear in my mind.”
“I have fulfilled my time, maintaining the same desire and passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is a suitable endpoint.”
As of now, Les Bleus have not yet secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The 56-year-old Deschamps took over the role from Laurent Blanc and holds the record as France’s longest-serving national team coach.
Having achieved success with every club he managed prior to his tenure with the national team, Deschamps also led Les Bleus to victory in the 2021 Nations League. As a player, he captained France to their 1998 World Cup triumph on home soil, defeating Brazil in the final.
He is among only three individuals to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a coach, alongside Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer, both of whom passed away last year.
The 56-year-old Didier Deschamps has confirmed he will step down as France’s head coach when his contract ends in the summer of 2026.
“I’ve held this role since 2012, and I will continue until 2026, coinciding with the next World Cup. But every journey must come to an end at some point,” Deschamps shared in an interview with TF1.
“I’ve carried out my responsibilities with unwavering dedication and passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 will mark the conclusion of my time in this role,” he added.
Deschamps took over the French team after Laurent Blanc’s tenure, stepping in during a turbulent period marked by the infamous player protest against then-coach Raymond Domenech during the 2010 World Cup and various off-field controversies. Under his guidance, France won the 2018 World Cup and reached the finals of both the 2022 World Cup and the 2016 European Championship.
In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, France faced a heartbreaking loss to Argentina in the final.
“I’m not here to chase records,” Deschamps said, reflecting on his achievements, which include winning the 2021 Nations League with France. “The most important thing is to ensure the French team remains at the top, as it has for so many years.”
Deschamps is one of only three individuals in football history to win the World Cup both as a player and a coach, alongside Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Franz Beckenbauer of West Germany. With 105 victories, he holds the record for the most wins as France’s coach, far surpassing Michel Hidalgo and Raymond Domenech, who both recorded 41.
Despite facing criticism after France’s elimination in the semifinals of Euro 2024 by Spain, where the team’s pragmatic style of play was heavily scrutinized, Deschamps has retained the support of French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo.
While his tenure has not been without challenges, Deschamps’ impact on French football is undeniable, and his legacy will remain a defining chapter in the nation’s storied history of the sport.
