France manager Didier Deschamps learned of his mother’s death on Tuesday morning and will miss Friday’s group-stage match against Norway in the 2026 World Cup, the FFF announced Tuesday. Deschamps will return home to attend the funeral and, as a result, won’t be in Foxborough, Massachusetts, for the Blues’ final outing of group play.
Their match versus Norway will determine the winner of Group I, as each country has six points so far. Both France and Norway, however, have already clinched a knockout round berth.
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Group I standings
|
W |
T |
L |
GD |
Pts. |
||
|
1 |
France |
2 |
5 |
6 |
||
|
2 |
Norway |
2 |
4 |
6 |
||
|
3 |
2 |
-3 |
||||
|
4 |
Iraq |
2 |
-6 |
Longtime national team assistant Guy Stéphan will lead France in Deschamps’ absence, according to the FFF’s statement, which, via The Athletic, reads, in part:
“In agreement with Philippe Diallo, President of the French Football Federation, who is present at the French national team‘s training camp, Didier Deschamps has entrusted his assistant, Guy Stéphan, with the responsibility of leading the squad until his return.
“During this extremely painful time, we ask for your utmost respect and restraint.”
Deschamps, 57, has managed France the past 14 years. He piloted the Blues to the 2018 World Cup title in Russia. As a player, he captained the 1998 World Cup team that won it all on home soil in France.
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Last year, Deschamps announced that he plans to step down from his post as France’s manager following the 2026 World Cup, a tournament the Blues entered as a trendy pick to win.
France, which finished as the runner-up to Argentina during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is off to a 2-0 start in this year’s tournament.
The Blues recorded a 3-1 win over Senegal last week and then a 3-0 victory over Iraq on Monday. Star forward Kylian Mbappé scored twice in both matches. He’s currently tied with Norway’s Erling Haaland for second in the Golden Boot race.
