France head coach Didier Deschamps
Deschamps to miss France-Norway match after his mother's death
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- Deschamps has returned to France for the funeral.
- Assistant coach Guy Stéphan will lead the team on Friday.
- The French Football Federation offered condolences and support to the family.
France head coach Didier Deschamps will temporarily step away from his managerial duties at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and return home following the death of his mother, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday.
Deschamps learned of his mother's passing on Tuesday morning at the team’s base camp in the United States.
He will fly back to France immediately to be with his family and attend the funeral services.
As a result, the 57-year-old manager will not oversee upcoming training sessions and will be absent from the touchline for France's final Group I match.
Guy Stéphan takes temporary charge
Following consultations between Deschamps and FFF President Philippe Diallo—who is currently stationed at the team's tournament headquarters in the US, it was decided that long-time assistant manager Guy Stéphan will take immediate responsibility for the squad.
Stéphan will lead Les Bleus through their tactical preparations this week and manage the team from the bench on Friday night.
In an official statement published via X, the federation expressed its profound sorrow and extended its collective solidarity to the World Cup-winning manager:
"In this extremely painful moment, we wish the coach and his family much courage and assure them of the support of everyone at the Federation."
The tragic news comes during an otherwise flawless start to the tournament for France. Under Deschamps' stewardship, the squad has already secured qualification for the knockout rounds after dominant successive victories over Senegal (3–1) and Iraq (3–0).
Friday's final group fixture against Norway remains highly competitive, as both nations are currently fighting to secure the coveted top seed in Group I.
Didier Deschamps ne pourra pas assurer les entraînements avant la rencontre Norvège-France. Il ne pourra pas non plus être présent sur le banc vendredi pour le dernier match des Bleus dans le groupe I (21 heures, h.f.).
— FFF (@FFF) June 23, 2026
Le sélectionneur national a eu la douleur, ce mardi matin,… pic.twitter.com/Mqi67B0tJF
