France coach Didier Deschamps will miss his team’s final World Cup Group I match against Norway after the death of his mother.
The French Football Federation announced the news on Tuesday. It said Deschamps would return to France to attend the funeral.
“Didier Deschamps will not be able to be on the bench on Friday for the final Group I game,” the federation said.
The statement added that the France coach learned of his mother’s death on Tuesday morning and decided to travel home.
Assistant coach Guy Stephan will lead the team against Norway on Friday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
France have already reached the last 32. They opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over Senegal before beating Iraq 3-0 in their second group match.
The French side now aim to finish top of Group I. They will face Norway, led by striker Erling Haaland, in their final group game.
The tournament is Deschamps’ last as France coach. He has led the national team for 14 years.
During his time in charge, France won the 2018 World Cup. The team also reached the Euro 2016 final and the 2022 World Cup final. However, France lost to Portugal in 2016 and suffered a penalty defeat to Argentina in 2022.
The French federation has not said when Deschamps will return to the squad.
