France head coach Didier Deschamps will miss Les Bleus’ final group match against Norway on Friday after returning home following the death of his mother.
In a statement on Tuesday, the French Football Federation (FFF) said: “The national coach had the pain, this morning, of learning of his mother’s death. He is returning to France to attend her funeral”.
“In agreement with Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, who is at the France team’s base camp, Didier Deschamps has entrusted his assistant, Guy Stéphan, with responsibility for leading the squad until he returns,” the statement continued.
Deschamps, who took over as head coach in 2012 and guided France to World Cup victory in 2018, is expected to rejoin his players and staff in Boston on Saturday, the day after the match against Norway.
In the meantime, he will remain in contact with his assistant, Guy Stéphan, to discuss team selection.
Deschamps also missed a game against Denmark in 2022 following his father’s death.
France sit top of Group I on six points after notching up a 3-1 win against Senegal and a 3-0 victory over Iraq to kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign.
Star striker Kylian Mbappé has already bagged four goals and will be looking to take that form into the knockout stages.
Should the French team beat Norway in Boston on Friday and finish top of the group, they will face a third-placed team from one of Groups C, D, F, G or H in the round of 32.