France has hit a number that puts Didier Deschamps in rarefied air. The team just qualified for its 50th knockout-stage match across World Cups and European Championships during his tenure as head coach.
How France got here
Deschamps took over as France’s head coach in July 2012. The milestone arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. France sealed their knockout-round berth after winning group-stage matches against Senegal and Iraq, with the final group fixture taking place on June 26, 2026.
Deschamps’ resume includes a World Cup victory in 2018, when France beat Croatia in the final, and a runner-up finish at UEFA Euro 2016, where they fell to Portugal on home soil.
A bittersweet moment for Deschamps
