Mbappe Pressures Deschamps to Avoid Italy Role After 2026 World Cup

France captain Kylian Mbappe has expressed his desire for Didier Deschamps to conclude his international coaching career after the 2026 World Cup, discouraging him from taking charge of another national team. Mbappe revealed he is actively trying to influence Deschamps' plans and described the possibility of the coach moving to Italy as "awful."

Deschamps, who has managed the French national team for 14 years, is expected to step down following the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Mbappe emphasized the importance of giving Deschamps a fitting farewell to his successful tenure.

Although Deschamps has not publicly confirmed his future intentions, he has not ruled out returning to club management or accepting another national team position. Mbappe, however, is keen to prevent his mentor from coaching a rival team, particularly Italy, and has been vocal within the squad about this.

In an interview with M6, Mbappe stated, "The best way to pay tribute to him is to win because he loves to win. We're going to make sure he has the best of the recent World Cups. Hopefully, it will be his last because I hope he doesn't play for another team." He added, "I'm putting pressure on him" regarding Deschamps' future.

Deschamps has often been linked with the Italy coaching position due to his history with Juventus as both player and manager. Italy, aiming to rebuild after missing several World Cups and facing instability, views Deschamps as a strong candidate. Mbappe, however, expressed his disapproval of this potential move, saying, "They said Italy, that would be awful."

Meanwhile, Mbappe and Deschamps remain focused on France's upcoming World Cup campaign. After finishing as runners-up in 2022, Les Bleus aim to secure another world title and provide a memorable send-off for their coach. The 2026 tournament will mark the end of Deschamps' era with the national team.

France will open their World Cup group stage against Senegal on June 16, followed by matches against Iraq on June 22 and Norway on June 26.