A new chapter is about to begin for the France National Team, and it has a familiar name: Zinedine Zidane. Following France's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, all signs point to the legendary former player and multiple-time Real Madrid champion becoming the next head coach of Les Bleus, ushering in a new era for one of world soccer's most successful national teams.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the French Football Federation plans to officially appoint Zidane once the World Cup concludes. The move would mark the beginning of a project that both the coach and much of the French football community have anticipated for years.

The task ahead will be anything but easy. Zidane will inherit a national team accustomed to competing for every major trophy while carrying the enormous responsibility of succeeding Didier Deschamps, the architect of one of the most successful eras in French football history.

The Difficult Task of Replacing Deschamps

Over 14 years, Didier Deschamps transformed France into a global powerhouse. Under his leadership, Les Bleus won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, reached the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and consistently challenged for every major international title, establishing one of the most stable and successful national team projects of the modern era.

Beyond the trophies, Deschamps' greatest achievement was building a team capable of constantly reinventing itself. He successfully integrated emerging stars without sacrificing experience, creating a balanced identity built on physical strength, individual talent, and tactical discipline that kept France among the favorites in every tournament.

Now it will be Zidane's turn to guide the team, bringing a different philosophy centered on greater control of possession, attacking creativity, and maximizing the technical quality of his players.

A Golden Generation Ready to Keep Winning

If there is one major advantage for Zinedine Zidane, it is the remarkable squad he is set to inherit. France continues to possess one of the deepest talent pools in international soccer, blending established stars with an exciting new generation already capable of competing at the highest level.

Players such as Kylian Mbappé, the team's attacking leader and one of the world's most influential footballers, will remain the foundation of the project. Alongside him, talents like Aurélien Tchouaméni, Désiré Doué, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé provide creativity, pace, versatility, and the potential to keep France among the world's elite for years to come.

Zidane's experience managing world-class dressing rooms may prove equally valuable. During his time at Real Madrid, he demonstrated an exceptional ability to manage superstar personalities, maintain harmony within the squad, and consistently bring out the best in elite players, leading the club to an unprecedented three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles.

That leadership could become one of the defining strengths of his national team project.

The Goal: Keep France Among the World's Elite

Zidane's arrival would not represent a complete rebuild but rather the next evolution of a project that has remained among international football's elite for more than a decade.

History also works in his favor. As a player, Zinedine Zidane led France to victory at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000, cementing his status as one of the country's greatest sporting icons. Now he will attempt to repeat that success from the touchline, following in the footsteps of Didier Deschamps, who also lifted the World Cup as both a player and a head coach.

Expectations will be enormous, but so will the talent at his disposal. If Zidane can transfer the leadership, squad management, and winning mentality that defined his spell at Real Madrid to the national team, he could open another golden chapter for Les Bleus and keep France among the favorites to win the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

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