Zinedine Zidane Is Now Officially France's Next Coach

 

  

France wore their blue (home) jerseys for the Final, along with their traditional white shorts and red socks. Brazil wore their distinctive yellow/gold jerseys with blue shorts. 

Okay, that was weird.

Could have sworn that this became official a couple of weeks ago, when I first posted it. Yet yesterday and today, the headlines were dominating about Zidane officially becoming the coach. He said that he had turned down opportunities over the past several years so that he could become coach of France. This was the job he always wanted, and he intends to make France a winner.

Sounds good. 

Well, the rumors were going around for quite some time. Possibly since as long as Didier Deschamps announced that he would step down as France's coach following this World Cup, regardless of the results. 

Now it is official. Zinedine Zidane will be the new head coach for France now that Didier Deschamps is stepping down. The two men were both players on the 1998 team that won the first ever World Cup championship for France, as well as the Euro 2000.

Deschamps also won the 2018 World Cup as the coach for the winning French side, which also qualified for the 2016 Euro Final and the 2022 World Cup Final.

The results were a bit different this time around. France was considered by many to be the favorites in the tournament, and even looked the part for much of their run. But they ran into a Spanish wall of defense a few days ago, ending their hopes of taking home another World Cup championship.

Later today, they will face England in the consolation third place game. After that, Zidane will step in to try and bring Les Bleus back to the top.

Zidane confirmed as France head coach Zinedine Zidane looking on at a news conference Image source,Getty Images Image caption, Zinedine Zidane won the Champions League three times as Real Madrid manager  ByCharlotte Coates, BBC Sport journalist and Emma Smith, BBC Sport journalist Published 28 July 2026

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cpd741qn2y9o

Zinedine Zidane: Former Real Madrid manager appointed as France head coach - BBC Sport

France announce Zinedine Zidane as new coach, replacing Didier Deschamps by Alex Kirkland, Jul 28, 2026:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49431120/france-announce-zinedine-zidane-new-coach-replacing-didier-deschamps

France announce Zinedine Zidane as new coach, replacing Didier Deschamps - ESPN