Read for 2 minutes24 Jun 2026 04:43 PM IST
France will be without their head coach Didier Deschamps on the touchline for their final 2026 FIFA World Cup group game against Norway as the latter has returned home to attend the funeral of his mother, who died on Tuesday. The French Football Federation (FFF) made the announcement in a statement on their X account and later posted a video of the team and coaching staff paying tribute before starting their training session.
“The national team coach is saddened to learn of his mother’s death this Tuesday morning. He will return to France to attend her funeral,” the FFF said. The federation added that Deschamps’ assistant Guy Steffen will lead the team in his absence.
moment de recueillement avant la séance. Nous sommes tous avec vous, coach 💙 pic.twitter.com/lmtScxGOpD
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) 24 June 2026
“In agreement with the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, who is present at the base camp of the France team for the World Cup in the United States, Didier Deschamps has handed over to his assistant Guy Stephan the responsibility of leading the group until his return. At this very painful moment, we send our best wishes to the coach and his family.”
Both France and Norway are already through to the round of 32 but this final group game could decide which side will emerge as the group winners, with weight-pitching superstar forwards Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland going up against each other. France beat Senegal 3–1 in their first match of the tournament and then beat Iraq 3–0.
One of football’s most accomplished figures, Deschamps is looking to lead France to a second World Cup triumph as manager. He is one of only three men to win the FIFA World Cup as a player and coach. He won the prestigious trophy as a player in France in 1998, where he also captained the team, and later in 2018 as head coach in Russia.