Deschamps to leave France after World Cup 2026

Deschamps confirms this is his last dance

Didier Deschamps will step down as France manager after the 2026 World Cup. The news was confirmed Thursday, making this tournament his final chapter after more than a decade in charge. He said he hopes to "finish beautifully" (1). Every match from here is a farewell to the man who gave you a World Cup in 2018.

Bonus and family ticket deal sealed

The FFF and the squad have reached an agreement on World Cup bonuses and family tickets just as the tournament kicks off (2). No details on the exact figures, but the deal removes a lingering off-pitch distraction. The image-rights tension that Deschamps acknowledged publicly earlier in the camp is firmly in the rearview mirror.

The World Cup is officially underway

The 2026 tournament opens Thursday with the first match in Mexico. France have touched down at their Boston base camp, the Four Seasons, where the squad found decorated rooms and gifts – Celtics and Patriots jerseys among them (3) (4). The squad faces a one-hour daily time-zone adjustment and the American summer heat as they prepare for the opener against Senegal.

Fan reactions

Across Reddit, the World Cup chatter is heating up. On r/worldcup, fans are debating whether this is the most dangerous group of African teams ever heading into a tournament, with Senegal naturally part of that conversation – France's opening opponent looks no pushover. Meanwhile, a PSG supporter compiled every club player heading to the tournament, and Lucas Hernandez and Warren Zaire-Emery are flying the France flag from the Paris squad.

Is this the most dangerous Africa has ever looked heading into a World Cup?