France set to unveil Zidane as Didier Deschamps’s successor
By Luke Oluoch, July 23, 2026The French Football Federation (FFF) has announced it will hold a news conference on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, to unveil the next head coach of the national team.
The announcement comes after Didier Deschamps officially stepped down following France’s World Cup third-place playoff against England in Miami on Saturday, July 18, 2026.
Deschamps led Les Bleus for 14 years, and the FFF is now preparing to open a new chapter.
Although not explicitly named in the FFF statement, Zinedine Zidane is the overwhelming favorite to succeed Deschamps. Zidane, 54, has been without a managerial role since leaving Real Madrid, where he enjoyed immense success, securing 17 total trophies across his stints as both a player and head coach.
Zidane expected to be unveiled
He served as Real Madrid’s assistant coach during the 2013–14 campaign when Los Blancos won La Décima (their historic 10th UEFA Champions League title) before taking over as head coach in 2016.
Zidane has long been viewed as the leading candidate for the role and has reportedly waited years for the opportunity to take charge of the national team while turning down numerous club offers.
This comes as the football world pays tribute to Deschamps following his departure after the 2026 World Cup in North America. In a statement issued on Sunday, July 19, 2026, the FFF confirmed his farewell, stating:
“Forever in the history of French football. Thanks for everything, coach.”
Deschamp farewell
Deschamps took over Les Bleus in 2012, succeeding Laurent Blanc, and leaves behind a glittering, historic resume as both a player and manager. As the captain who lifted the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 trophies and the mastermind who coached France to global glory in 2018, Deschamps’ impact on French football remains unrivaled.
“All good things must come to an end. I will miss the French national team, but the future should be bright for them,” Deschamps remarked. “I am still young at 57. I am going to enjoy time with my family and rest first. As I always say, the best is yet to come.”