World Cup 2026: Didier Deschamps to miss France’s final group game following death of his mother

The French Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed that France coach Didier Deschamps will miss his team’s final World Cup group match following the death of his mother.

Deschamps, 57, learned of his mother’s death on Tuesday morning and was allowed to return to France to attend the funeral by FFF president Philippe Diallo.

France, which qualified for the qualifying rounds by defeating Senegal and Iraq in its first two matches, will face Norway in Boston on Friday to determine the winner of Group I.

The FFF said in a statement that assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the team until Deschamps returns.

As a player, Deschamps won the World Cup with France in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.

He became manager of the national team in 2012, leading them to World Cup final victory in Russia in 2018 and defeat to Argentina in the final in 2022.

France beat Senegal 3-1 in New Jersey last week and then followed up with a 3-0 victory over Iraq on Monday, including a two-hour weather delay, in Philadelphia.