The France team will begin a new stage after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup and everything indicates that Zinedine Zidane will be in charge of leading it. While Didier Deschamps prepares to direct his last game as head of Les Bleus, the historic former footballer and former coach of Real Madrid appears as the one chosen to take on a project that would extend until 2030.

The transition will occur once the match for third place against England, scheduled for this Saturday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, ends. This commitment will mark the closing of the cycle for Deschamps, who leaves office after winning the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 Nations League and reaching the final of the 2022 World Cup.

Various information agrees that Zidane already has his coaching staff prepared and that all that remains is to complete the administrative documentation to make his arrival official. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the former French midfielder will sign a contract valid until 2030, while sources close to the process maintain that the decision to appoint him had been made since last November.

The president of the French Federation himself, Philippe Diallo, avoided confirming the name of the successor when consulted months ago, although he did not deny the possibility either.

“Yes, I know his name,” he then responded when asked who would replace Deschamps.

A cycle with defined objectives until the 2030 World Cup

The French federation projects a long-term process for Zidane, who has not managed a team since May 2021, when his second stage as coach of Real Madrid concluded. During those five years he remained away from the bench by his own decision, while he waited for the opportunity to take charge of the national team.

The new project contemplates as its main objectives the UEFA Nations League, the 2028 Euro Cup and the 2030 World Cup, which will be organized by Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

Zidane will arrive backed by a career that includes two LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues with the Madrid team. Now he will take over a team that is looking to recover after the elimination suffered against Spain in the World Cup semi-finals.

Despite this setback, the sports panorama offers continuity. France maintains a base of young footballers who still have room to complete another World Cup cycle.

Kylian Mbappé, 27, and Ousmane Dembélé, 29, will continue to be two of the offensive references. They are joined by Michael Olise (24), Aurélien Tchouaméni (25), Manu Koné (25) and Eduardo Camavinga (24), who was not part of the World Cup squad.

The new coach will also have the mission of promoting an emerging generation led by Desiré Doué (21 years old), Rayan Cherky (22) and Bradley Barcola (23), footballers who have already begun to gain prominence.

Rather than a complete rebuild, the challenge will be to get the most out of a group that retains much of its talent and will officially compete again in September, when France plays two Nations League games. The first will be as a visitor against Turkey on the 25th and three days later they will host Belgium, commitments that are emerging as Zidane's possible debut at the helm of Les Bleus.