Didier Deschamps just did something no football manager has ever done. By coaching France in their 2026 World Cup semi-final against Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Frenchman notched his 26th World Cup match as a manager, surpassing the record of 25 previously held by West Germany’s Helmut Schön from 1966 to 1978.
The record in context
Deschamps has now managed France across four consecutive World Cups: 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. His resume across those tournaments reads like a highlight reel. A World Cup title in 2018. A final appearance in 2022. And now a semi-final run in 2026 that pushed him past Schön’s half-century-old benchmark.
His approximate World Cup coaching record stands at around 20 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses. If France competes in the third-place playoff, Deschamps could extend his record to 27 matches managed.
Why crypto cares about the World Cup
