Didier Deschamps has left the France team camp in the United States and returned to his homeland after learning of his mother’s death on Tuesday morning, the French Football Federation has confirmed. The 57-year-old head coach will miss Friday’s final World Cup group game against Norway in Boston, where France will determine the winner of Group I despite having already secured qualification for the knockout stages.
Deschamps, who led France to World Cup victory as captain in 1998 and as manager in 2018, was given permission by FFF president Philippe Diallo to fly back to attend the funeral. Assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad until Deschamps returns — a man who has spent the last 17 years working alongside him, first at Marseille and then with the national team.
“France coach Didier Deschamps returns home after mother's death, missing final group game against Norway.”
“Didier Deschamps will not be able to oversee training sessions ahead of the Norway v France match. He will also be absent from the bench for Friday’s final Group I game,” the FFF said in a statement. “The national team coach learned this morning of the death of his mother and will return to France to attend her funeral. In agreement with Philippe Diallo … Deschamps has entrusted assistant coach Guy Stephan with responsibility for leading the squad until his return.”
France have already beaten Senegal 3-1 in New Jersey and Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia — a game delayed by two hours due to weather — meaning Friday’s match against Norway will decide who tops the group. Stephan, whose last head coaching role was with Senegal after the 2002 World Cup, has extensive international experience, having previously assisted Roger Lemerre when France won Euro 2000 and the Confederations Cup in 2001.
Deschamps became manager of the national side in 2012, guiding them to a World Cup final victory in Russia in 2018 and a defeat by Argentina in the final in 2022. For now, his focus is on family, while Stephan steers the team through their final group-stage fixture.