France clinches 2026 World Cup berth as Deschamps dodges the hard question
13 November 2025
France seals 2026 World Cup spot as Deschamps dodges a tough question
France's head coach Didier Deschamps sidestepped a painful question after his side clinched a place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
The French booked their ticket by beating Ukraine 4-0 at the Parc des Princes in the fifth round of Group 4 in the European qualifiers, lifting them to 13 points at the summit. Iceland were second on seven, level on goal difference with Ukraine, while Azerbaijan sat bottom with a single point.
Kylian Mbappé scored twice, with Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike adding late goals in the second half to make Sunday’s clash with Azerbaijan feel like a formality, and giving Deschamps a chance to rest several players and hand opportunities to bench players and youth.
That victory means France advance to the World Cup finals for the 17th time, and the eighth in a row under Deschamps, who led them to glory in 2018 and 2022 and will again oversee the 2026 campaign.
Asked by TF1 if this was his last game in France as coach of the Blues, Deschamps replied, "I don’t feel nostalgic about the past, and I don’t look back. What matters is celebrating the qualification today and focusing on the future tomorrow."
Deschamps, 57, has been at the helm since 2012 and confirmed he would step down after France's World Cup journey ends.
"We must always respect the beautiful moments; qualifying for the World Cup is not easy," he added, noting that no team qualifies in October under a four-team group format, and praising the opponents.
"The atmosphere at the Parc des Princes was electric and tense, but the team responded well. It’s a great pride to be part of the squad, and France must be present in every competition," he said.
Deschamps also reflected on the Ukraine game, saying, "We needed more effort, speed and dynamism in the second half; we dominated possession almost entirely, but opportunities were scarce in the first half."
He credited substitutions for giving the team a lift and highlighted the impact of Mbappé’s double along with Olise and Ekitike coming off the bench.
Deschamps, who has managed France 174 times, recorded 112 wins, 32 draws and 30 losses, with 372 goals scored and 164 conceded.
Among his trophies are the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 UEFA Nations League, and runner-up finishes at Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup. France’s chances for 2026 will be assessed after the tournament.
The French coach also hinted at possible links with clubs in the Saudi Pro League, including reported talks with teams like Roshen and Al-Ittihad, but stressed his focus remains on the national team and his future decision after the 2026 World Cup.
In Telefoot’s interview aired around the squad announcement, he acknowledged interest from clubs but did not name them, insisting a firm decision will come only after the World Cup.
Punchlines: Deschamps dodges questions like a pro—goalkeepers aren’t the only ones who shelter behind a wall; and Mbappé’s brace? A reminder that France still has thunder in its boots. Punchline 2: If evasive answering were a weapon, Deschamps would have already won the World Cup twice over.
