French football icon Zinedine Zidane is reportedly on the verge of taking over as head coach of the France national team following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to reports, the French Football Federation is preparing to complete the necessary paperwork that would officially appoint the former Real Madrid manager as Didier Deschamps’ successor. The agreement is expected to keep Zidane in charge through the 2030 World Cup.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has indicated that Zidane has remained fully committed to the possibility of managing France, turning his attention away from other coaching opportunities in anticipation of the role becoming available.

The expected appointment comes shortly after France’s World Cup campaign ended in the semi-finals, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Spain.

The loss marked the end of another major tournament under Deschamps, who is widely expected to leave his position after more than a decade in charge.

Deschamps enjoyed a highly successful spell with Les Bleus, guiding the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and helping them reach several major finals. Under his leadership, France also finished runners-up at UEFA Euro 2016 and narrowly missed retaining the World Cup in 2022 after an epic final against Argentina.

Should the deal be completed, Zidane will begin a new chapter in his coaching career after achieving remarkable success at club level. During his time at Real Madrid, he won multiple UEFA Champions League titles and domestic honours, establishing himself as one of the game’s elite managers.

French supporters will now hope the legendary midfielder can replicate that success on the international stage as he prepares to lead one of world football’s most talented squads into a new era.