Deschamps to miss France’s final group match in the 2026 World Cup after his mother’s death.

France head coach Didier Deschamps will be absent from the team’s final World Cup group match after his mother passed away.

The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed the news, citing BBC Sport.

At 57, Deschamps received the information of his mother’s death on Tuesday morning and has received permission from FFF president Philippe Diallo to return to France for the funeral.

France, already through to the knockout rounds after victories over Senegal and Iraq in their first two matches, will play Norway on Friday in Boston to decide Group I’s winner.

The FFF announced that assistant coach Guy Stephan will lead the squad until Deschamps returns.

Also Read: Nothing Beats Being A World Champion — France Coach Deschamps

Deschamps won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000 as a player for France.

He took over as national team manager in 2012, guiding France to a World Cup triumph in Russia in 2018 and a loss to Argentina in the 2022 final.

France defeated Senegal 3‑1 in New Jersey last week, then won 3‑0 against Iraq on Monday in Philadelphia, a match that featured a two‑hour weather delay.

James Agberebi

James is a sport content creator and also does analysis on sports. Also, James has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men and women national teams. Facebook : James Agberebi