AAP Soccer

Deschamps to leave France job after 2026 World Cup

By AAP Newswire

Jan 8, 2025

Players throw coach Didier Deschamps into the air. — Players throw coach Didier Deschamps into the air after France won the 2018 World Cup final. -AP

France coach Didier Deschamps plans to announce he won't continue in the role after the next World Cup, according to reports in French media.

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L'Equipe and RMC Sport were among the outlets to report on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) that the 56-year-old Deschamps would leave when his contract expires in the summer of 2026.Â

He is expected to make an official announcement on Thursday (AEDT).

Deschamps, a World Cup winner as a player, took over as coach of Les Bleus in July 2012 and led France to the World Cup title in 2018, beating Croatia in the final.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, France reached the final and lost an epic title match to Argentina.

Europe will send 16 teams to the first 48-team World Cup, being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, in 2026.

It is uncertain who will succeed Deschamps as France coach, but Zinedine Zidane is the heavy favourite for the job.

- with Reuters