One of the most successful eras in international soccer is coming to an end, and France appears ready to hand its future to another national icon.
Zinedine Zidane is reportedly set to become France’s next head coach after Didier Deschamps steps down following the 2026 World Cup. Multiple reports say Zidane has had a verbal agreement with the French Football Federation for months, although the appointment still awaits the completion of the formal process.
Advertisement
Deschamps’ final match in charge will be Saturday’s third-place playoff against England. His departure ends a 14-year tenure that included the 2018 World Cup championship, a second-place finish in 2022 and another semifinal appearance in 2026.
Those results make Deschamps one of the most accomplished national-team coaches of his generation. But France’s 2-0 semifinal loss to Spain also reinforced the belief that the program is ready for a new voice.
Zidane is the obvious choice.
The former French captain remains one of the greatest players in the country’s history, having played a central role in France’s 1998 World Cup triumph and its European Championship victory two years later. His managerial résumé is equally impressive.
Advertisement
During two spells with Real Madrid, Zidane won two La Liga titles and three consecutive Champions League trophies. His calm personality, experience managing elite players and understanding of tournament pressure make him a natural fit for a French squad filled with established stars.
He will also inherit one of the most talented national teams in the world.
Kylian Mbappé remains the face of the program, while Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué give France an attacking group few countries can match. Zidane’s primary challenge will not be finding talent. It will be creating a system that allows that talent to consistently control the biggest matches.
That was one of the criticisms of France under Deschamps. His pragmatic approach delivered remarkable results, but the team sometimes played more cautiously than its attacking personnel suggested it should. Against Spain, France struggled to control possession or create enough clear chances despite fielding one of the tournament’s most dangerous forward lines.
Advertisement
Zidane’s arrival could signal a tactical shift.
At Real Madrid, he was known for managing personalities, trusting elite players and adjusting his approach to the demands of major matches. France will expect him to preserve the discipline established by Deschamps while giving its attacking stars greater freedom.
The expectations will be enormous.
Zidane will not be taking over a rebuilding project. He will be inheriting a team that reached three consecutive World Cup semifinals and believes anything short of winning trophies is a disappointment. His first matches are expected to come in the UEFA Nations League later this year.
Advertisement
Deschamps leaves behind a secure legacy. Zidane now appears poised to begin one of the most anticipated coaching tenures in international soccer.
France is not simply replacing a manager. It is moving from one World Cup-winning legend to another, with the same objective that has defined the program for more than a decade: win everything.
