France national team coach Didier Deschamps will be absent from his side’s final World Cup group-stage match following the death of his mother, according to the French Football Federation.
The 57-year-old was informed of the loss on Tuesday and has been granted permission to return to France to attend the funeral.
France have already secured qualification for the knockout stages after recording victories over Senegal and Iraq in their opening two matches. The team is scheduled to face Norway in Boston on Friday, with the match set to determine the winner of Group I.
During Deschamps’ absence, assistant coach Guy Stephan will oversee the squad until the France manager rejoins the team.
Deschamps enjoyed a highly successful playing career, helping France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 European Championship. Since taking charge of the national team in 2012, he has guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and a runners-up finish in 2022.
France opened their current World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal before securing a comfortable 3-0 win against Iraq in a match that experienced a lengthy weather interruption.
