Officially: Zidane will coach the French national team after the 2026 World Cup
In a move long awaited by football fans worldwide, French football legend Zinedine Zidane to take over as manager of his national team, succeeding current coach Didier Deschamps. This anticipated step comes after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Details of the agreement between Zidane and the French Federation
According to the reliable Spanish newspaper AS, a final agreement has been reached between Zinedine Zidane and the French Football Federation for him to take over as coach of the national team. Reports confirm that all contractual and sporting details have been finalized, making "Zizou" the future leader of the French national team. This agreement puts an end to years of speculation surrounding the future of the coach, who has been away from the coaching scene since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
Deschamps' legacy and the anticipated transition
The significance of this event lies in the fact that it marks the end of a historic era for the French national team under the leadership of Didier Deschamps, who took over in 2012. Deschamps succeeded in bringing France back to the winners' podium, achieving the 2018 World Cup title in Russia, the 2021 UEFA Nations League title, in addition to reaching the final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. With Deschamps' contract expected to end after the 2026 World Cup, Zidane is considered the natural and most widely agreed-upon choice to lead the current golden generation, which includes prominent stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Wafaa Zeidan... She rejected financial temptations for the sake of her dream
The Spanish report indicated that Zidane received a lucrative offer from a major European club a few weeks ago, but it was met with a firm rejection, forcing the club to change course and search for another coach. This wasn't the first time; during his time away from coaching, Zidane received very tempting offers from major clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Al-Hilal. However, Zidane has repeatedly proven that his decisions are not based on financial motives, but rather that his thinking has always focused on only two possible destinations: returning to Real Madrid, the only team he has ever coached and with whom he achieved the miraculous feat of winning the Champions League three times consecutively, or fulfilling his greatest dream of leading the French national team.
The expected impact of appointing Zidane
Both domestically and internationally, Zidane's appointment carries enormous weight. Domestically, Zidane enjoys near-sacred status in France after leading the national team as a player to its first-ever World Cup title in 1998, followed by Euro 2000. Regionally and internationally, the appointment of a coach with a winning mentality and overwhelming charisma like Zidane to lead one of the world's strongest teams will make France the leading contender to dominate continental and global tournaments in the coming decade, adding a major dimension to international football competitions.
