Deschamps bids farewell to Clairefontaine before the 2026 World Cup

June 6, at the Château de Clairefontaine. The French national team took their official World Cup team photo; Deschamps, in a white shirt and blue pants, crouched in the center of the front row, with Mbappé on his left and Dembélé on his right. As the shutter clicked, the staff lined up and applauded. This was Deschamps' last time passing through this château in fourteen years.

· 7d

June 6th, Château de Clairefontaine. The French team took its official World Cup squad photo; Deschamps, in a white shirt and blue pants, crouched front row center, with Mbappé on his left and Dembélé on his right. As the shutter clicked, staff lined up to applaud. It was Deschamps' last time walking through this castle in fourteen years.

Eighteen days later, at the training base in Boston. He gave a few brief instructions to the team, then boarded a plane back to Paris. No lineup, and no applause.

His mother Ginette passed away during the World Cup. The federation issued a statement: the head coach would miss the final group stage match against Norway on June 26th to return home for funeral arrangements. The team observed a minute of silence, forming a circle at Bentley University's training grounds in Waltham.

Standing on the sideline was assistant coach Guy Stéphan.

Four years earlier, late May 2022, the same script. Deschamps' father died just before a Nations League match, and Stéphan was pushed into the technical area for the first time. France lost 1-2 to Denmark, ending a seven-match winning streak. The same assistant coach, the same kind of tragedy. In 2022 it was in Europe; in 2026, it was halfway across the globe.

Stéphan has been immersed in French football's coaching system for over twenty years, having gone through the full cycles of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. He knows Deschamps' tactical board, every international's temperament, and the hidden currents of the locker room. Usually, Deschamps handles the big picture, the dressing room, and the media, while Stéphan manages the execution details of training sessions and set-piece designs. The two have worked together for fourteen years on the national team; the federation chose him as the sole substitute for the technical area, not based on certifications, but because he knows this system inside out.

Now, this burden falls on him for the second time.

This World Cup, France started strong. In Group I, they beat Senegal in the first two rounds and crushed Iraq 3-0. Against Iraq, Mbappé scored two goals; a thunderstorm during halftime interrupted the match for nearly two hours. With two consecutive wins securing early advancement, Deschamps had planned to keep building his stats in the knockout stages. He currently has 16 World Cup wins as a coach, tied with West German legend Helmut Schön for first place all-time. Schön's record, built from 1966 to 1978 over 25 matches, took Deschamps just 21 games to equal.

But he didn't make it to the third group match.

Mbappé posted a picture on Instagram Stories. The training field in Boston, with players and staff forming a circle. The caption was just one line: "All our hearts are with the coach and his entire family. You are not alone."

French media didn't reveal everything Deschamps said before leaving. RMC Sport only squeezed out two phrases: "brief speech" and "a request to keep the momentum going."

After managing this team for fourteen years, he left behind only a "keep playing." But he packed fourteen years of tactical foundation and locker room authority into his suitcase back to Paris.

In September 2025, Deschamps let slip at a press conference: "I feel like I'm saying goodbye."

At that point, he had one year left on his contract, and speculation about Zidane taking over was already soaring. Zidane had waited for this position for nearly five years; the French Football Federation's officials were eager for this power transition. Deschamps complained to L'Équipe that he was tired of everyone always talking about his last time.

But the workplace doesn't care about personal wishes; this World Cup is his finish line.

Next match against Norway, Stéphan will be in the technical area.

The last time he stood there, France lost. This time, Haaland awaits. If they get past Norway, France and Germany will both need to win two more rounds to face each other in the quarterfinals.

Deschamps left the road ahead to a deputy who has stood by his side for fourteen years.

References

RMC Sport, France vs Norway: Guy Stéphan replaces Didier Deschamps, in mourning, for the 2026 World Cup match, https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/coupe-du-monde/france-norvege-comment-s-est-passe-le-seul-match-des-bleus-ou-guy-stephan-a-remplace-didier-deschamps-sur-le-banc_AV-202606240356.html

RMC Sport, 2026 World Cup: Mbappé supports coach after the death of Deschamps' mother, https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/coupe-du-monde/coupe-du-monde-2026-vous-n-etes-pas-seuls-le-message-de-soutien-de-kylian-mbappe-a-didier-deschamps-endeuille-par-la-mort-de-sa-mere_AV-202606240314.html

L'Équipe, Kylian Mbappé expresses support for Didier Deschamps after the coach's mother passes away, https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/-vous-n-etes-pas-seuls-kylian-mbappe-apporte-son-soutien-a-didier-deschamps-et-sa-famille/1697748

WELT, Mother's death: French national coach Didier Deschamps leaves the World Cup, https://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/wm/article6a3aea52e880869d9f534797/didier-deschamps-tod-der-mutter-frankreichs-nationaltrainer-reist-von-der-wm-ab.html

Foot Mercato, 2026 World Cup: Kylian Mbappé shows support for Didier Deschamps after the death of his mother, https://www.footmercato.net/a1669908813188567440-cdm-2026-edf-le-message-de-soutien-de-kylian-mbappe-a-didier-deschamps

RMC Sport, 2026 World Cup: The French team unites around Didier Deschamps, https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/coupe-du-monde/coupe-du-monde-2026-l-equipe-de-france-au-soutien-de-didier-deschamps-qui-a-perdu-sa-maman_AV-202606231007.html

Foot Mercato, 2026 World Cup: France observes a minute of silence for Didier Deschamps' mother, https://www.footmercato.net/a173760466842763545-cdm-2026-les-bleus-ont-respecte-une-minute-de-silence-pour-la-mere-de-didier-deschamps

RMC Sport, Didier Deschamps: French coach mourns mother's death during 2026 World Cup, https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/didier-deschamps_DN-202108310501.html

Hupu, Mbappé expresses support for Deschamps; French coach misses Norway match, https://m.hupu.com/bbs/640258972

FIFA, Norway v France group stage match schedule confirmed, https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/17/285023/289273/400021489

TwidGrid, FIFA World Cup Coaching Records, https://twidgrid.com/fifaworldcup/coaching.html