Didier Deschamps, the coach who led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup, announced on Wednesday that he will step down after the 2026 edition.
“It will be 2026,” Deschamps said in an interview with French broadcaster TF1. “I’ve been with the team since 2012, and it’s planned that I will remain until the next World Cup. It’s clear in my mind that it’s time for it to end.”
Deschamps, 56, emphasized his continued dedication to maintaining France’s position at the highest level of international football, but made it clear that 2026 will mark the end of his tenure.
He made history in 2018, guiding France to World Cup glory in Russia, and brought them to the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they were narrowly defeated by Argentina in a dramatic penalty shootout.
As a player, Deschamps captained France to their 1998 World Cup triumph on home soil, defeating Brazil in the final. He is one of only three individuals to have won the World Cup both as a player and a coach, alongside Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer, both of whom passed away last year.
AFP
