Overview
- Didier Deschamps confirmed he will end his 14-year tenure as France head coach following the team's fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup.
- He blamed a toxic surrounding atmosphere and accepted responsibility for tactical mistakes, saying his decision was made for the good of the French team.
- France reached the semifinals but lost 2-0 to Spain and then fell 6-4 to England in the third-place match after trailing 4-0 at halftime.
- Deschamps briefly left the squad in June for his mother's funeral and had long-time assistant Guy Stéphan covering matchday duties, highlighting operational strain during the final weeks.
- His exit ends a period of major success, including the 2018 World Cup title as coach, and leaves the French Football Federation facing a leadership search and short-term transition.