Deschamps Returns to France Following His Mother's Death

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

At 57, Deschamps received the news of his mother’s death on Tuesday morning and was granted permission by FFF President Philippe Diallo to return to France for the funeral.

France, already through to the knockout rounds after victories over Senegal and Iraq in their first two matches, will play Norway on Friday in Boston to decide the Group I winner.

The FFF announced that assistant coach Guy Stephan will lead the squad until Deschamps returns.

As a former player, Deschamps earned the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship titles with France.

He took charge of the national team in 2012, guiding them to a World Cup triumph in Russia in 2018 and a loss to Argentina in the 2022 final.

France defeated Senegal 3–1 in New Jersey last week, then won 3–0 against Iraq on Monday in Philadelphia, a match that featured a two‑hour weather delay.