Zinedine Zidane Poised to Lead France After World Cup Exit
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, the French Football Federation is preparing to appoint Zinedine Zidane as the new head coach of Les Bleus once the country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign concludes.
Romano added that the federation will finalise all contractual paperwork with the former Real Madrid manager immediately after France’s final match at the tournament.
Zidane’s Singular Focus on the France Job
The report notes that Zidane has rejected every coaching approach made over the past eight months, choosing to wait exclusively for the opportunity to lead the French national side.
Didier Deschamps Prepares to Step Down
The anticipated change comes as Didier Deschamps gets ready to conclude his tenure after overseeing France’s remaining fixtures at the World Cup.
Deschamps on the Semi‑Final Defeat
Discussing the loss to Spain, Deschamps said his side struggled to find space against a well‑organized defence and admitted that the team was not at the required technical and defensive level to secure victory.
He acknowledged that the occasion may have affected some players, but stressed that France were ultimately responsible for their own performance.
“In this context, players can make mistakes, and for some this was their first World Cup semi‑final. We didn’t control the game as we wanted. We can’t erase what we’ve achieved before, but we should have created more problems for Spain and been 100 % physically and technically,” he added.
Critique of the Refereeing
Deschamps also questioned the performance of Salvadoran referee Iván Barton, especially regarding the penalty awarded to Spain after Lucas Digne’s challenge on Lamine Yamal.
He remarked, “The fourth and fifth officials were good; do you think the main referee was up to standard?” while refraining from elaborating on other decisions.
Reflecting on His Tenure
Looking back on his time in charge, Deschamps expressed pride in the successes France enjoyed under his leadership, including the World Cup triumph, yet confessed a sense of dissatisfaction following the semi‑final loss.
“I am happy with everything we have done with the national team; we won the FIFA World Cup and kept the side at the highest level. I have experienced many joyful moments, but today I feel unsatisfied,” he said.
Third‑Place Play‑Off Awaits
France will now contest the third‑place play‑off before Deschamps formally ends his spell as national team coach.
He described the match as “the last step before a possible final,” noting that while the game will not erase past achievements, Spain demonstrated superiority in the encounter.
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