Deschamps flies home for mother's funeral as Stephan takes charge against Norway

Didier Deschamps has returned to France after the death of his mother, leaving long-time assistant Guy Stephan to take temporary charge of Les Bleus for their World Cup 2026 Group I finale against Norway at Gillette Stadium in Boston on Friday.

Deschamps received the news on Tuesday and departed the United States to attend the funeral, missing what is effectively a dead-rubber decider for top spot — both France and Norway have already secured their places in the round of 32 with maximum six points from wins over Senegal and Iraq respectively.

The French Football Federation issued a statement expressing its support for the manager. “At this incredibly painful time, we wish the head coach great strength and assure him of everyone’s support,” the governing body said.

Stephan will hand the reins back to Deschamps ahead of the round of 32, with the winner of tonight’s group topping their section and earning a second-round tie at MetLife Stadium.

The stakes of the group stage aside, Deschamps’ absence is a reminder of how much history rests on his shoulders at this tournament. Alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer, he is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager — captaining France to glory on home soil in 1998 and lifting the trophy again as head coach in Russia in 2018, defeating Croatia in the Moscow final.

He also won the European Championship as a player, lifting the trophy in Rotterdam in 2000, and has managed Monaco, Juventus and Marseille in addition to his 13-year tenure with the national side, which began in 2012.

France came agonisingly close to retaining the World Cup in Qatar, losing to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 final in Lusail. That defeat denied Deschamps the chance to join Vittorio Pozzo as the only manager to win the competition twice in succession with the same country.

This tournament will be his last. It was confirmed in January that Deschamps will not extend his contract beyond the conclusion of World Cup 2026. Zinedine Zidane, his former France teammate, has been widely reported as the frontrunner to succeed him once the summer is over.