France will play its final World Cup group-stage match without head coach Didier Deschamps on the bench.
The French Football Federation announced that Deschamps left the team’s base in the United States and returned to France after learning of his mother’s death on Tuesday morning.
Deschamps will miss Friday’s Group I match against Norway while attending her funeral.
The federation said assistant coach Guy Stéphan will lead the squad until Deschamps returns.
Deschamps Returned to France for the Funeral
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The FFF said Deschamps would not be able to oversee training sessions before the Norway match and would not be on the bench for Friday’s game. Federation president Philippe Diallo, who was at France’s base camp, agreed to the temporary handover to Stéphan.
In a separate team update, the FFF said Tuesday’s training session began with a moment of reflection in memory of Deschamps’ mother. The session was led by Stéphan as the squad continued preparations in Bentley, Massachusetts.
The federation offered support to Deschamps and his family, saying everyone inside the organization was behind him during an “extremely painful” time.
Guy Stéphan Will Lead France Against Norway
Stéphan will take charge of France for the final Group I match against Norway. Reuters reported that he will handle both training and match duties until Deschamps returns.
The match is scheduled for Friday, June 26, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which is being used as Boston Stadium during the tournament.
People reported that the game will determine the winner of Group I. France has already secured advancement, but finishing position still matters for the knockout-round path.
France Has Already Reached the Knockout Round
France opened its World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal on June 16. The team then beat Iraq 3-0 on June 22, giving it enough points to advance before the final group game.
The Iraq win also came with unusual disruption. The FFF said France had to wait more than two hours before playing the second half because of lightning near Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Deschamps’ absence leaves France to manage the final group test without the coach who has led the national team since 2012. Stéphan now has the responsibility of guiding the players through a match that can decide whether France enters the knockout stage as group winner.
Deschamps Is Nearing the End of His France Tenure
The personal loss comes during what is expected to be Deschamps’ final World Cup as France coach. He confirmed in January 2025 that he would leave the national team job after the 2026 tournament.
His résumé with France is already historic. Deschamps captained France to the 1998 World Cup title as a player, then coached the country to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final.
Friday’s match will be a rare France game without him on the touchline, with Stéphan taking charge while Deschamps is back home with his family.