France names Gigi Steffan interim coach for Norway World Cup qualifier

Head coach Didier Deschamps stepped away from the France national football team after returning to France for his mother's funeral. He handed temporary charge of the team to his long‑time assistant Gigi Steffan. Steffan, 69, will lead France in the final Group I match of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Norway on 26 June at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, near Boston. He will run training sessions and head the bench, supported by goalkeeper coach Frank Rabié and fitness trainer Cyril Muan.

Steffan has worked alongside Deschamps since 2009, first at Marseille and later with the senior side, and previously took over the squad in 2022 when Deschamps left after a family bereavement; France lost that match 2‑1 to Denmark. The duo previously guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2021 Nations League triumph. Steffan said of his relationship with Deschamps, "At the end of the day, he is always the one who makes the decisions," reflecting their long‑standing partnership.