h Didier Deschamps will step down as manager of Les Bleus following the team’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 57-year-old, who won the World Cup both as a player in 1998 and as a coach in 2018, saw his hopes of claiming a third title end after France’s 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain national football team on Tuesday night.

Deschamps had already announced in January 2025 that he would leave his position after the tournament. His final match in charge will be Saturday’s third-place playoff in Miami against the loser of the semifinal between England national football team and Argentina national football team.

“This is not the moment to talk about the future,” Deschamps said after the match. “I am proud of what we have achieved together, including winning the World Cup and keeping France among the top teams in world football.”

Deschamps is one of only three people to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer.

Since taking charge of France after UEFA Euro 2012, he has led the team to:

2014 World Cup – Quarterfinals
Euro 2016 – Runners-up
2018 World Cup – Champions
Euro 2020 – Round of 16
2022 World Cup – Runners-up
Euro 2024 – Semifinals

As a player, Deschamps earned 103 caps for France between 1989 and 2000, captaining the team to victory at UEFA Euro 2000 before retiring from international football.

Former France teammate Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to succeed him as head coach of the French national team.

Deschamps to Leave France Job After World Cup Exit to Spain

Comments (0)