Zidane to take over as France national team coach on July 28

The French Football Federation (FFF) announced that a press conference will be held on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 at 11:00 CET in its Paris headquarters. President Philippe Diallo will introduce the federation’s new head coach, the successor to Didier Deschamps, whose 14‑year tenure ended after France finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup. All media reports identify Zinedine Zidane, the 54‑year‑old former Real Madrid manager and World‑Cup‑winning former player, as the overwhelming favourite. The FFF is expected to confirm a four‑year contract that will run through the 2030 World Cup. Zidane, who has not held a coaching post since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, will make his international‑manager debut in the UEFA Nations League, with the first match against Turkey scheduled for 25 September 2026, followed by fixtures versus Belgium and Italy. The appointment is framed as a new era for Les Bleus, aiming to build on their 2018 World‑Cup triumph and maintain a top‑tier position in world football.