France head coach Didier Deschamps will not be on the sidelines for Les Bleus' final Group I match against Norway at the 2026 World Cup. France have already secured a place in the Round of 32 after opening the tournament with two wins.
The French Football Federation confirmed earlier this week that Deschamps left the team's training camp earlier this week after the death of his mother. He returned to France to attend her funeral and will miss Friday's match.
In his absence, long-time assistant GuyStéphan will lead France from the bench. Stéphan, 69, is Didier Deschamps' long-time assistant coach and trusted tactical right-hand man who has worked by his side with the French national team since 2012.
He shares in all of France's recent successes, including the 2018 World Cup victory, and was previously an assistant during France's Euro 2000 win. This is not his first time stepping up. Stéphan previously managed the team from the bench in 2022, when Didier Deschamps had to leave the French camp following the death of his father, Pierre Deschamps.
What Happened to Didier Deschamps' Mother?
Didier Deschamps' mother, Ginette Deschamps, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the age of 89.
The France head coach received the news during a training session with the national team in the United States ahead of their final Group I match against Norway. Shortly afterward, Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, granted Deschamps compassionate leave, allowing him to return to France to be with his family and attend the funeral.
As a result, Deschamps missed France's final preparations for the Norway match but despite his absence, Deschamps has reportedly stayed close in contact with his coaching staff and assistant coach Guy Stéphan.
Who Is Didier Deschamps' Mother?
Didier Deschamps' mother was Ginette Deschamps.
Ginette lived a quiet life away from the spotlight. According to French media, she worked as a wool saleswoman, while her husband, Pierre, was a house painter and former rugby player. Together, they raised their two sons, Didier and Philippe, with values of hard work, humility, and discretion.
Even after Didier helped France win the 1998 World Cup and became one of the country's most successful football figures, Ginette never sought public attention. She continued living a simple life and preferred to stay out of the media.
Many of the qualities Didier Deschamps is known for, his discipline, calm personality, and preference for letting results speak for themselves, have often been linked to the values his parents instilled in him from an early age.
