Didier Deschamps, who led France to their 2018 World Cup title, will conclude his 14-year tenure as France's national team coach following the third-place playoff against England on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The match takes place in Arlington, Texas, where France suffered a 2-0 defeat that denied them a chance to reach a third consecutive World Cup final, leaving them to compete for the bronze medal.

At 57 years old, Deschamps had aimed to end his coaching career by guiding Les Bleus to a third World Cup triumph, building on his distinguished legacy as both a player and coach. He is remembered as the architect of France's successful 2018 campaign, two decades after captaining the team to their first global title.

Waiting to take over the reins is Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps' former teammate and one of France's greatest footballers. Meanwhile, England carries the emotional weight of past World Cup heartbreaks, and fans in New York's 'Little Palestine' have shown support for Spain in the World Cup final.

Additional World Cup highlights include five players who rose to social media stardom and Spain's challenge in containing Lionel Messi, as noted by super-sub Merino.

Sources