Deschamps successor to be named after 2026 World Cup as Diallo revises plan | OneFootball

Philippe Diallo has decided against naming the next France head coach before the 2026 World Cup, opting not to unsettle Didier Deschamps, who remains firmly in charge.

He had previously floated two windows, March-April 2026 or after the finals, and said that since the draw he now favours leaving preparation undisturbed. According to L'Équipe, no successor will be announced while Deschamps is in post.

At the FFF federal assembly in a Paris hotel on Saturday morning, Deschamps received a standing ovation from amateur football delegates after a slightly laboured 15-minute speech that praised the grassroots. He took photos before leaving with his close team.

He restated the usual last-four target for the World Cup and played down any sentimentality as his tenure nears its end. He said he is not nostalgic, feels young, and knows this was his final general assembly. He also dismissed any ambition to run the FFF, responding to Gérald Baticle that his focus is on today and tomorrow.

Diallo publicly lauded Deschamps as probably the greatest France coach so far and said he hopes to see him return in a few months to be honoured again, while accepting a world title would be hard won. Zinédine Zidane remains the overwhelming favourite to succeed him, but no announcement is planned until Deschamps departs.

Source: L'Équipe