Zinedine Zidane set to be named France head coach after 2026 World Cup

Zinedine Zidane has reached a verbal agreement to become the next head coach of the French national team, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano.

The arrangement would see Zidane assume control after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

For now, Didier Deschamps remains in charge and is set to lead Les Bleus into the tournament. His contract runs through the World Cup, and he has already confirmed he will step down once the campaign concludes — a timeline that allows for continuity on the pitch and careful succession planning off it.

Zidane’s return to the dugout has long felt inevitable. Since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, he has been linked with several elite roles, yet the France job has consistently stood apart as his preferred destination. Within the federation, he is widely viewed as the natural heir to Deschamps — a figure whose stature resonates deeply in French football and beyond.

His managerial credentials are formidable. Zidane remains the only coach to win three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles (2016, 2017, 2018), a historic run that cemented his reputation among the modern greats. Across two spells in Madrid, he also captured two La Liga titles and multiple domestic and international trophies.

Reports indicate that groundwork is already underway behind the scenes, with discussions focused on staffing structures and a long-term technical project. The move appears less a symbolic appointment and more the beginning of a carefully constructed new era.

As a player, Zidane was the heartbeat of France’s 1998 World Cup triumph and their Euro 2000 success. Now, he is poised to return at a pivotal moment, with a squad brimming with elite talent — led by figures such as Kylian Mbappé — and expectations as high as ever.