France’s 2018 World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps has announced on Wednesday he will leave his post after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
He was named France coach in July 2012 to succeed former national teammate Laurent Blanc who decided not to renew his contract after the country’s quarter-final exit at Euro 2012
“It will be 2026,” Deschamps told French broadcaster TF1. “I have been there since 2012, it is planned that I will be there until 2026… the next World Cup.
“It will end there because it has to end at some point. It’s clear in my mind.
“I have done my time, with the same desire, the same passion to keep the France team at the highest level, but 2026 is good.”
Deschamps qualified France for the 2014 World Cup, losing to eventual champions Germany at the quarter-final stage. France hosted Euro 2016, and Deschamps’ side reached the final which they lost to Portugal after extra time.
Remarkably, The former midfielder won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final becoming the only third man after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer to win the World Cup as both player and manager.
Two years later, he led France won the 2020-21 Nations League, defeating Spain 2-1 in the final and guided France to their second successive World Cup Final in Qatar in 2022, losing on penalties to winners Argentina after a 3-3 draw in regulation time.
At Euro 2024, France finished second in their group, behind Austria and went out in the quarterfinals after a penalty shootout defeat to Portugal following a 0-0 draw.
France topped their group in the 2024-25 Nations League, ahead of Italy and Belgium, to reach the quarterfinals, where they will face Croatia in March.
