It is now confirmed, the France team will compete in the 2026 World Cup, in North America, next summer. A World Cup with a lot of expectations for the French people, because beyond a third star to be sought, the question of the succession of Didier Deschamps is at the heart of the debates. After a quarter-final lost against Germany in 2014, a final victory in 2018 and a final lost on penalties against Argentina in 2022, Didier Deschamps will play his last minutes on the bench of the France team in the United States.
If the name of Zinedine Zidane – who has already affirmed his desire to coach the French team – is already on everyone’s lips to take over from the Blues, the French Football Federation intends to communicate when the time comes. “It’s not fake suspense at all. It’s simply a respect for the team in place, Didier and his staff have been there for fourteen years now. I do not want to introduce elements that could disrupt the preparation of the French team.first indicated Philippe Diallo, the president of the FFF, who claims to have a lot of respect for Zinedine Zidane “for what he brought to French football”but also “what he also demonstrated as a coach”.
An announcement before the World Cup?
As for the announcement of the transfer of power between Didier Deschamps and, possibly, Zinedine Zidane, Philippe Diallo assures that there are only two windows available. Either at the end of the World Cup, or a window a little more anticipated and sufficiently far from the final phase of the World Cup, he mentioned, specifying that the announcement could be made in the company of Didier Deschamps so that there is harmony to take the reins of the France team.
And according to Philippe Diallo, the official announcement should be made before the start of the 2026 World Cup: “one option is the end of the first quarter of 2026, around March-April, to be sufficiently far from the final phase. I don’t want there to be any disruption.”he added in the columns of The Team. As a reminder, the France team must play two friendly matches during the next March window, from March 23 to 31, before flying off for the 2026 World Cup from June 11 to July 19.
