Deschamps returns to France after death of his mother
<li>Published23 June 2026</li>
<p>France head coach Didier Deschamps will miss his side's final World Cup group game following the death of his mother, the French Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed. </p>
<p>Deschamps, 57, learned of his mother's passing on Tuesday morning and has been given permission by FFF president Philippe Diallo to fly back to France to attend the funeral.</p>
<p>France, who have already qualified for the knockout stages after beating <a href="/sport/football/videos/ced40y0xj1eo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Senegal</a> and <a href="/sport/football/videos/cdr4jg87z71o" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Iraq </a>in their opening two games, face Norway on Friday in Boston to determine the winner of Group I.</p>
<p>In a statement, the FFF said assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad until Deschamps returns.</p>
<p>As a player, Deschamps won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000 with France.</p>
<p>He became manager of the national side in 2012, and leading them to a World Cup final victory in Russia in 2018 and a defeatby Argentina in the final in 2022.</p>
<p>France beat Senegal 3-1 in New Jersey last week, followed by 3-0 victory- which included a two-hour weather delay in Philadelphia - against Iraq on Monday.</p>
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