FFF To Unveil Deschamps’ Successor As Zidane Links Intensify
French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo will officially present the new head coach of the men’s national team on Tuesday, 28 July, following the departure of long-serving manager Didier Deschamps.
French icon Zinedine Zidane leads the race to succeed his former international teammate. Zidane, a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year and hero of France’s 1998 World Cup triumph, has been unattached since stepping down from his second managerial stint at Real Madrid.
(Final score; Villarreal CF 2-1 Real Madrid). (Photo by Manu Reino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
If appointed, Zidane will step into the seat vacated by Deschamps, who ended his 14-year tenure at the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
How Did France’s 2026 World Cup Campaign End?
Les Bleus exited the tournament after a semi-final defeat to eventual champions Spain, followed by a dramatic 6-4 loss to England in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
Deschamps’ departure marks the end of one of the most successful international managerial runs in modern football history. Appointed in 2012 to replace Laurent Blanc, the 57-year-old led France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup crown in Russia—becoming just the third person to win the trophy as both a player and a manager.
He also guided France to the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where they fell to Argentina on penalties, as well as a final appearance at Euro 2016. Across 187 matches in charge, Deschamps recorded 122 victories, 32 draws, and 33 defeats.
What Is the FFF’s Official Timeline for the Announcement?
In an official statement, the federation confirmed that the unveiling will follow an extraordinary executive meeting in Paris:
“Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF, will present the next coach of the French team on Tuesday, July 28, at 11:00 a.m., during a press conference,” the FFF said in a statement.
“The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. at the FFF headquarters.
“At the end of the exceptional Executive Committee meeting to be held the same morning, Philippe Diallo will present the next coach of the French team to the media.”
