French national team coach Didier Deschamps will return to France to attend his mother’s funeral, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced this Tuesday (23). He will not lead the “Bleus” against Norway on Friday (26), in the last match of Group I of the 2026 World Cup, in North America.
“Didier Deschamps will not be able to lead the training sessions before the match between Norway and France. Nor will he be able to be on the bench on Friday. The national coach received the sad news of his mother’s passing this morning. He will return to France to attend the funeral,” said the FFF.
The French federation reported that, in Deschamps’ absence, the team will be led by his assistant, Guy Stéphan, until his return to Kylian Mbappé’s team’s base camp in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Already guaranteed in the next phase of the World Cup, the two-time world champion (1998 and 2018) needs a draw against Norway to finish top of Group I.
The French occupy first place with 6 points alongside the Norwegians (but have a superior goal difference).
Senegal (3rd) and Iraq (4th) complete the bracket, both still without points.
