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France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
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France Coach Didier Deschamps Says He’ll Leave after 2026 World Cup

France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)
France's coach Didier Deschamps celebrates as they do a lap of honor during a ceremony to celebrate the victory of the 2018 World Cup at the end of the UEFA Nations League football match between France and Netherlands at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, northern of Paris, on September 9, 2018. (AFP)

Didier Deschamps announced Wednesday that he won’t continue as France coach after the next World Cup.

The 56-year-old Deschamps said in an interview with broadcaster TF1 that he will leave when his contract expires in the summer of 2026.

“I’ve been here since 2012, I’m scheduled to be here until 2026, the next World Cup, but that’s where it’s going to end because it has to end at some point,” Deschamps said in excerpts of the interview to be aired later Wednesday.

“I did my time, with the same desire and the same passion to keep the French team at the highest level, but 2026 is all very well.”

Deschamps started in his role as a successor to Laurent Blanc and led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup, also reaching the final in 2022 and at the 2016 European Championship.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, France reached the final and lost an epic title match to Argentina.

“I’m not here for the records,” Deschamps added. “The most important thing is that the France team remains at the top as it has been for many years.”

Europe will send 16 teams to the first 48-team World Cup, being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.

Deschamps did not elaborate on his future beyond the World Cup.

“There is a life afterwards,” he said. “I don’t know what it will be.”

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PSG Looks for Super Cup Success Over Villa for First of Six Possible Trophies This Season

Désiré Doué of PSG attends the team’s training session in Salzburg, Austria, 11 August 2026. (EPA)
Désiré Doué of PSG attends the team’s training session in Salzburg, Austria, 11 August 2026. (EPA)
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PSG Looks for Super Cup Success Over Villa for First of Six Possible Trophies This Season

Désiré Doué of PSG attends the team’s training session in Salzburg, Austria, 11 August 2026. (EPA)
Désiré Doué of PSG attends the team’s training session in Salzburg, Austria, 11 August 2026. (EPA)

Paris Saint-Germain gets back on the trophy trail on Wednesday in the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa.

There are six pieces of silverware up for grabs for PSG this season, with the No. 1 priority being a third straight Champions League title to cement its status as one of the greatest club teams in football history.

The first trophy could be lifted inside Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, in the annual match between the most recent winners of the Champions League and Europa League.

PSG is bidding for a second straight Super Cup win after beating Tottenham in a penalty shootout last year.

Villa won the Super Cup in 1983 after beating Barcelona over two legs. The manager, Unai Emery, has experienced three straight losses in the Super Cup — the first two with Sevilla and the third with Villarreal.

The game will be refereed by Omar Artan, the Somali who was barred by the United States from officiating at the World Cup days before the start of FIFA's tournament because of vetting concerns. US officials claimed Artan had connections to terror organizations, though without providing proof.

UEFA responded by picking Artan — a referee judged the best in Africa last season — to take charge of the Super Cup in a powerplay by European football's governing body amid its increasing disconnect with FIFA.

That disharmony has increased since, with UEFA leading the campaign to oust Gianni Infantino from the FIFA presidency over his recent aborted plan to sell an interest in the World Cup.

Villa will be without new signing Johan Manzambi, with the Swiss World Cup star out due to a knee injury, while key players Emi Martinez, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa won't play as they haven’t returned to full training after the World Cup.

PSG coach Luis Enrique must decide whether to include France internationals Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola and Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielder Fabián Ruiz, as they only returned to training on Monday.

PSG could pick left-back Lucas Digne, who recently joined from Villa.

Sports

Chelsea Signs Chavarria as Replacement for Cucurella

Rayo's Pep Chavarria and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr jump for the ball during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany, May 27, 2026. (AP)
Rayo's Pep Chavarria and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr jump for the ball during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany, May 27, 2026. (AP)
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Chelsea Signs Chavarria as Replacement for Cucurella

Rayo's Pep Chavarria and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr jump for the ball during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany, May 27, 2026. (AP)
Rayo's Pep Chavarria and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr jump for the ball during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany, May 27, 2026. (AP)

Chelsea signed Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday as a replacement for left-back Marc Cucurella.

Cucurella joined Real Madrid at the start of the offseason.

Chelsea now has another Spaniard at left-back, with Chavarria signing a deal until 2031. He helped Rayo reach the Conference League final last season and finish eighth in La Liga for the second straight year.

“This is a dream for me as Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world,” Chavarria said. “It is a big opportunity, but I am prepared and will work hard to help the team achieve success.”

Under new manager Xavi Alonso, Chelsea has also signed defenders Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda, midfielders Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco, and striker Danny Welbeck this offseason.

Sports

Bergwijn Double Takes Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Through in Asian Champions League Playoffs

Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn scored twice inside the opening 38 minutes for Al-Ittihad. (Getty Images/AFP)
Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn scored twice inside the opening 38 minutes for Al-Ittihad. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Bergwijn Double Takes Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Through in Asian Champions League Playoffs

Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn scored twice inside the opening 38 minutes for Al-Ittihad. (Getty Images/AFP)
Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn scored twice inside the opening 38 minutes for Al-Ittihad. (Getty Images/AFP)

Former champions, Saudi Arabia’s ‌Al-Ittihad booked their place in the league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite on Tuesday with a 4-1 playoff win over Al-Jazira from the United Arab Emirates, while Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor won 3-0 against Jordanians Al-Hussein.

Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn scored twice inside the opening 38 minutes for Al-Ittihad, with Houssem Aouar and Marwan Al-Sahafi also on target for the Jens ‌Wissing-coached Saudi ‌Pro League outfit.

Dostonbek Khamdamov scored ‌in ⁠the seventh and ⁠30th minutes in Pakhtakor's win over Al-Hussein, before Bashar Resan netted his side's third seven minutes into the second half in Tashkent.

Japan's Gamba Osaka needed extra time to defeat Gangwon FC from South Korea, with Gaku Nawata striking ⁠in the 103rd minute to secure ‌a 1-0 win, ‌and Vietnam's Cong An Ha Noi recorded a 2-0 ‌victory against Australia's Adelaide United.

David Henen gave ‌Cong An Ha No a 41st-minute lead and Brayan Perea doubled the advantage in the 64th minute as Mano Polking's team booked their place in ‌the league phase draw, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur next ⁠week ⁠on August 18.

The league phase, which has been expanded from 24 to 32 teams, will begin on September 14 and run until February 17 with the round of 16 to be played over two legs in March.

Winners of those ties will advance to the finals phase, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final played on a centralized basis in Saudi Arabia from April 23 to May 1.

Al-Ahli from Saudi Arabia are the defending champions.