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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark Didier Deschamps’ final tournament as the head coach of the French national team.

Behind this impending farewell lies a remarkable opportunity for the man famously known as "DD" to make history.

If Deschamps succeeds in leading France to another final, he will become the first coach ever to reach three consecutive World Cup finals.

Should Les Bleus win the title, Deschamps would achieve an unprecedented feat — winning the World Cup twice as a coach and once as a player.

Expectations surrounding France are once again sky-high ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

As the 2018 world champions and 2022 runners-up, the French public naturally expects Kylian Mbappe and his teammates to make another deep run into mid-July.

Deschamps is well aware that such pressure has now become part of the French national team’s identity.

“We built those expectations through the results we achieved,” Deschamps told FIFA in an interview.

“We won in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, so supporters naturally expect France to still be there in mid-July,” he added.

Nevertheless, Deschamps remains realistic. He understands that being a favourite guarantees nothing at the World Cup.

“We are one of 10 or 12 nations who can realistically dream of becoming world champions. But do you know how many actually win? Only one,” he said.

“That means at least 11 teams will go home disappointed,” he continued.

France come into the tournament with a terrifying attacking arsenal.

Ousmane Dembele recently helped Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defend their Champions League title, while Michael Olise impressed with Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe reaffirmed his lethal form by finishing as the top scorer in this season’s Champions League with 15 goals.

In addition, Deschamps still has a wide range of options such as Marcus Thuram, Desire Doue, and Rayan Cherki.

However, having so many stars presents a unique challenge for the coach.

“They can’t all play,” Deschamps admitted.

“There’s a lot of talent, but we need the right chemistry and cannot let individual egos interfere. We need balance and harmony among the players,” he explained.

Deschamps seems determined to prevent his players from getting complacent despite their favourite status.

He has repeatedly stressed that football can quickly punish teams that get too comfortable at the top.

This is why the opening Group I match against Senegal on June 17 is considered crucial.

France have bitter memories against Senegal — they suffered a 1-0 defeat in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup.

However, Deschamps refuses to label the upcoming match as revenge.

“There’s no such thing as revenge in sport. That’s in the past. This is a new chapter,” he said.

“Senegal are one of the best football nations in Africa,” he added.

After facing Senegal, France will play Iraq before meeting the dark horse, Norway.

Despite boasting a star-studded roster, Deschamps continues to emphasise the importance of experience. He acknowledges that this current French squad is younger than the 2018 champions.

“In 2018, many players had already experienced the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016. This time, I have several young players with limited exposure to major tournaments,” he explained.

One thing that hasn’t changed is Deschamps’ demand for commitment from his players.

“When they wear that jersey, they have a responsibility,” Deschamps said.

“Since day one, 14 years ago, I’ve told them: when you come to the French national team, you come not to take, but to give.”

Now, as he approaches his final tournament with France, Deschamps stands on the brink of history.

If Les Bleus reach the 2026 World Cup final, the 57-year-old manager will not only be remembered as a French legend but potentially as one of the greatest football coaches of all time.

Intense Competition

Football analyst Adrian from Spieltag Indonesia believes France remain one of the main favourites to win the 2026 World Cup. However, he also pointed out that Les Bleus are placed in one of the toughest groups.

“The toughest for me is Group I, which includes France, Senegal, Norway, and Iraq,” Adrian said during the Tribunnews podcast on Sunday, 31 May 2026.

He stated that France’s favourite status stems from their consistency in the last two World Cups.

“We know how France performed in the previous two editions — they reached the final both times, winning one and finishing as runners-up in the other,” he said.

Adrian also highlighted Les Bleus’ consistent excellence in major tournaments since winning the 2018 World Cup.

“France have been impressive in every major competition since that triumph — whether in the Euro or the World Cup — so they’re naturally favourites,” he added.

However, Adrian warned that France’s Group I opponents should not be underestimated.

He noted that Senegal arrive as the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations champions, while Norway boast a golden generation eager to make an impact in their first-ever World Cup.

“They’ll face Senegal, the reigning African champions, and Norway with their golden generation capable of causing an upset — especially since this is their first World Cup,” Adrian explained.

He even suggested that Group I could produce major surprises if France lose focus.

(Tribunnews.com/Tio)