Deschamps to Miss France's World Cup Decider After Mother's Passing

Didier Deschamps, the head coach of the French national football team, will be absent from France's final group stage match at the 2026 FIFA World CupCompetition·FIFA World Cup. Deschamps is returning to France following the death of his mother, as confirmed by the French Football Federation (FFF) on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Assistant coach Guy StephanCoach·Guy Stephan has been entrusted with leading the squad in Deschamps' absence, overseeing training sessions and taking charge from the bench for the upcoming fixture against NorwayTeam·Norway. The FFF released a statement detailing the situation: "Didier Deschamps will not be able to oversee training sessions ahead of the NorwayTeam·Norway v France match. He will also be absent from the bench for Friday's final Group I game." The statement further added, "The national team coach learned this morning of the death of his mother and will return to France to attend her funeral."

France has already secured their place in the knockout stages of the tournament, demonstrating strong form in their initial Group I encounters. They commenced their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, followed by a commanding 3-0 win against IraqTeam·Iraq. These results have positioned them favorably as they head into the final group game.

Key to France's success has been the prolific scoring of captain Kylian Mbappé, who has netted two braces in the group stage. His recent performances have seen him reach significant milestones, becoming France's all-time top scorer with 60 goals and earning his 100th international cap in the victory over IraqTeam·Iraq.

Despite having already qualified, the upcoming match against NorwayTeam·Norway, scheduled for Friday, June 26, carries considerable weight. NorwayTeam·Norway has also won their first two group games, setting up a direct contest to determine the top spot in Group I. France currently holds a slight advantage in goal difference, which could prove decisive in securing the preferred seeding for the knockout rounds.

Deschamps, who guided France to a World Cup victory in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2022, entered this tournament with expectations that it might be his final major competition at the helm of the national team. His temporary departure marks a poignant moment for the squad as they navigate a critical phase of their World Cup journey.