Mbappe Hopes Deschamps Avoids Awful Italy Move After World Cup

Kylian Mbappe wants Didier Deschamps to finish national team coaching with France and not lead another country, warning that a switch to Italy would be "awful" as Deschamps prepares for a final World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with Les Bleus.

Mbappe stressed that France plan to honour Deschamps with their performances at the 2026 tournament, underlining how much Deschamps values success. "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," Mbappe told French outlet M6.

Mbappe then made clear that Deschamps’ final international post should be with France alone. "Hopefully it will be his last, because I hope he doesn't coach another [national] team." Mbappe specifically reacted to talk from Italy, saying: "They said [he could join] Italy, that would be awful.I'm putting pressure on him!"

Deschamps confirmed in 2023 that the 2026 World Cup would close a long spell in charge of France. The former defensive midfielder stepped into the role in 2012 and, by the start of this tournament, had supervised 179 matches, with 115 wins, 35 draws and 29 defeats for Les Bleus.

Under Deschamps, France lifted the 2018 World Cup after a 4-2 win over Croatia and were runners-up in 2022. France also lost the Euro 2016 final. Deschamps previously captained France to titles at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, extending a long association with the national side.

Deschamps stands in a select group, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer, as individuals who have won the World Cup as both player and head coach. The 2026 tournament is Deschamps’ fourth World Cup as a manager; only Carlos Alberto Parreira and Bora Milutinovic have led more campaigns.

Speculation about Deschamps’ next role has increased, even though Zinedine Zidane is widely tipped to become France head coach. Mbappe hopes Deschamps returns to club management instead. Deschamps has worked in Italy before, playing for Juventus and later coaching the club during the fallout from the Calciopoli scandal.

In 2006-07, Deschamps guided Juventus straight back to Serie A in a single season after relegation to Serie B, a drop triggered by the Calciopoli case and Fabio Capello’s exit. That experience is one reason Deschamps is mentioned whenever an Italian national team vacancy appears.

Italy are once again searching for a new head coach after Gennaro Gattuso departed in March, following failure to reach a third consecutive World Cup. Italy lost on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina in their UEFA qualification play-off final, becoming the first former champions to miss three straight editions.

Antonio Conte is currently viewed as favourite to take charge of the Azzurri, after previously steering Italy to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals. Despite that, links between Italy and Deschamps persist, with Mbappe’s comments reflecting concern that France’s long-term coach could be tempted by such a role.

France’s focus now shifts to the group stage in North America, where Les Bleus open against Senegal on Tuesday. Iraq and Norway complete Group I, setting up varied early tests for a squad aiming to give Deschamps one more major trophy before the long-serving coach steps away.

Supporters have already shown strong backing for France at their United States base.

Mbappe’s remarks underline how much this tournament represents a farewell for Deschamps and how strongly key players hope that farewell does not lead to a future post with Italy.