The declaration had the effect of a small earthquake this Sunday morning. On television, Didier Deschamps confirmed that he would not travel to the United States in the coming weeks. An announcement which surprised some supporters, while the 2026 World Cup is already on the horizon. Some even saw it as a gesture of distance or a form of boycott towards the host country, as the timing seemed unusual on the part of the French coach.
Deschamps skips the trip to Washington
But the reality is much less radical. What Deschamps revealed on Téléfoot is that he will not be present at the draw for the group stage, scheduled for December 5 in Washington. The coach chose to send a delegation of his staff to the ceremony, believing that it was not necessary to cross the Atlantic for a protocol event. A pragmatic decision rather than a political message, even if the announcement, formulated bluntly, maintained a certain vagueness for a few minutes.
For the rest, DD will obviously be in the United States this summer. The future World Cup will even be a special moment for him: what he failed to experience as a player – playing in a World Cup on American soil – he will accomplish as a coach. And the objective is already underway, after a controlled elimination phase with five victories in six matches, including this Sunday’s success against Azerbaijan.
The Blues program already launched
The draw will mark the next stage of the calendar, but the Blues have other meetings before embarking for North America. In March 2026, a mini-tour is planned against Brazil and a nation from the host continent, according to RMC and L’Équipe. Then, at the beginning of June, France will play two final preparation matches on American soil, between June 1 and 9. This will be the opportunity for the Bayonne technician to finalize a group which he will unveil during the second half of May.
Ultimately, the absence of the coach in Washington is only an administrative detail. The main thing, for Deschamps, remains before him: guiding the Blues towards a last great world campaign. And this time, in the United States, it will be good there.
