Zidane Poised to Take Over France Role Following Verbal Agreement to Succeed Deschamps
Zidane moves nearer to taking on the France role following an agreement, while Deschamps readies for his departure after the 2026 World Cup.
According to sources, Zidane has come to a verbal agreement to take on the role of head coach for the France national team, setting the stage for him to replace Didier Deschamps following the 2026 World Cup.
Deschamps’ exit after 14 years at the helm has been expected in French football, with Zidane seen as the obvious choice to take over. The ex-Real Madrid manager, who departed from the club in 2021, is said to have been anticipating the opportunity to arise.
Zidane, now 53, is anticipated to receive his official appointment following France’s conclusion of their 2026 World Cup campaign, with only minor details concerning his backroom staff remaining to be finalized.
Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, suggested the decision during an interview, saying, “I know who it is,” yet he refrained from publicly naming Zidane.
In the meantime, Kylian Mbappé has responded to worries regarding his recent knee injury, refuting any speculation about his fitness.
My knee is perfectly fine. “It’s improving,” Mbappé stated.
“Things are progressing positively, and I understand there has been considerable speculation surrounding it, along with some inaccuracies that have been stated.”
“This is the reality for elite athletes; we often encounter individuals making statements without any verification or factual foundation.”
The France forward has recently made his return to action for Real Madrid after being sidelined for several weeks due to a sprained left knee, coming off the bench in recent matches, including a comeback victory against city rivals.
Mbappé is anticipated to join the France squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Brazil and Colombia later this month in the United States.
Real Madrid continues to compete both domestically and in Europe, currently behind Barcelona in the league standings as they gear up for a Champions League quarter-final matchup against Bayern Munich.
