Zinedine Zidane is set to become the next head coach of the French national football team, according to multiple reports emerging in late February 2026. The move, long anticipated within French football circles, follows a period of speculation after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.
Confirmation of the process to hire Zidane began surfacing in mid-January 2026, with sources indicating France had initiated discussions with the former Real Madrid manager. At that time, he was widely considered the leading candidate to replace Didier Deschamps, though no official announcement had been made. A post on Threads, shared by madrid_my_dna, highlighted the breaking news, though it included an unrelated image.
The expectation of Zidane taking the helm has been building for years. Threads posts from February 20th and 21st, 2026, demonstrate the widespread anticipation surrounding a potential return for the legendary player, and coach. One post from yeahyeahyouknow7108 framed the possibility as “a reunion tour with expectations,” even as Best of Football declared it “the news that all of French football had been waiting for.”
Carlos Lagowork, also on Threads, succinctly stated on January 20th that “Zinedine Zidane is the leading candidate to take over as France’s head coach after the 2026 World Cup,” reinforcing the prevailing sentiment.
As of March 1, 2026, the French Football Federation has not issued a formal statement confirming the appointment. No details regarding contract length or coaching staff have been released.
