The French Football Federation (FFF) announced on July 18, 2026, that Zinedine Zidane will succeed Didier Deschamps as head coach of the France national team following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Deschamps, who has led Les Bleus since 2012, will step down after the tournament in North America.
Zidane, 54, returns to coaching after leaving Real Madrid in 2021. He previously won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles with the Spanish club (2016, 2017, 2018) and two La Liga championships. The 1998 World Cup winner and 2000 European champion with France has long been considered the natural successor to Deschamps.
Deschamps, 57, captained France to World Cup glory in 1998 and coached the team to victory in 2018, as well as a runner-up finish in 2022. His tenure also included a UEFA Euro 2016 final appearance and a Nations League title in 2021. The FFF praised his "exceptional service" and said the transition would ensure continuity.
Zidane's contract is expected to run through the 2028 European Championship. He will take charge immediately after the 2026 World Cup final, regardless of France's result in the tournament. The FFF president stated that Zidane's appointment "represents the future of French football."
