Zinedine Zidane poised to succeed Didier Deschamps as France manager post 2026 FIFA World Cup: Report

Zinedine Zidane may take over as France's national team coach post-2026 FIFA World Cup, according to reports.

Published on: Feb 22, 2026, 16:21:41 IST

Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee

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Zinedine Zidane could be on course for a long anticipated return to the dugout, with France emerging as his next destination once the 2026 FIFA World Cup ends. According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, citing transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Zidane has reached a verbal understanding to take over the France national team after the tournament, a timeline that would align with Didier Deschamps completing his current cycle in charge.

Zinedine Zidane while coaching Real Madrid. (REUTERS)

If the plan holds, it would mark Zidane’s first job since he stepped away from club coaching in 2021 following his second spell at Real Madrid. In the years since, the 53 year old has repeatedly been linked with high profile openings across Europe, but has remained selective, often seen as waiting for a role that matches both his stature and his ambitions.

Also Read: Real Madrid beaten by Osasuna to boost Barcelona in La Liga title race

A France appointment would fit that profile. Zidane is one of the most decorated coaches of the modern era, best known for guiding Real Madrid through a period of sustained success in knockout football. His track record, combined with his standing in French football, has made him a persistent name whenever the national team job has looked even remotely movable.

For France, a post tournament transition could offer a clean reset without disrupting a World Cup campaign. The squad remains rich in elite talent and depth, and the next cycle will quickly turn toward qualifying plans, tactical evolution and managing a new wave of players pushing into contention. The timing, immediately after a major tournament, is typically when federations prefer to make sweeping changes, allowing an incoming coach a full runway to shape the next project.

A verbal agreement is not the same as a signed contract, and international coaching appointments can still hinge on results, federation processes and final terms. But the development strengthens the idea that France are already mapping out life after Deschamps, with Zinedine Zidane positioned as the front runner for the handover.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Probuddha Bhattacharjee
Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More

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