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Deschamps Bidding to End Glorious France Reign on a High at World Cup

France head coach Didier Deschamps, right, instructs his players after their second goal during the UEFA Nations League match between France and Belgium at the Groupama stadium in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP)
France head coach Didier Deschamps, right, instructs his players after their second goal during the UEFA Nations League match between France and Belgium at the Groupama stadium in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP)
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Deschamps Bidding to End Glorious France Reign on a High at World Cup

France head coach Didier Deschamps, right, instructs his players after their second goal during the UEFA Nations League match between France and Belgium at the Groupama stadium in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP)
France head coach Didier Deschamps, right, instructs his players after their second goal during the UEFA Nations League match between France and Belgium at the Groupama stadium in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP)

After a remarkable 14-year spell in charge capped by one World Cup triumph and another run to the final, Didier Deschamps is hoping to go out on a high as he gets ready to step down as France coach following the upcoming tournament in North America.

Les Bleus travel to the United States on top of the world rankings and are clearly one of the leading contenders for final victory.

They are bidding to reach a third consecutive World Cup final after winning the trophy in 2018 and losing an epic contest on penalties to Argentina in 2022.

Deschamps was appointed in 2012 when France were struggling to recover from the low ebb of the 2010 World Cup, which featured a squad mutiny against then-coach Raymond Domenech.

Under Deschamps, France have once again become one of the most feared names in the international game.

"It is a funny feeling," Deschamps, now 57, said recently after naming his squad for a World Cup for the last time.

"I usually try to hide my emotions. But I am fine with it all. What has happened is in the past, and has been done quite well -- if it hadn't I wouldn't still be here after 14 years.

"Now all my energy is focused on this World Cup."

It is expected that Deschamps' old France teammate Zinedine Zidane will succeed him following the tournament.

In the meantime, Deschamps will try to lead France to their fifth World Cup final in eight editions, and a third title.

The Basque Country native has a remarkable CV as a player as well as a coach, having captained his country to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998 and at Euro 2000.

As a midfielder, he was 24 when he skippered Marseille to victory in the 1993 UEFA Champions League final.

Later also a Champions League winner with Juventus, he retired from playing aged just 32 and coached Monaco to the final of Europe's elite club competition in 2004. He then won a French title with Marseille in 2010.

After a narrow quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Germany in the heat of the Maracana at the 2014 World Cup, he led his country to the final of Euro 2016 as hosts.

An extra-time defeat against Portugal at the Stade de France was painful, but by now he had an exciting generation of players emerging, featuring the likes of Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.

- Third straight final? -

Kylian Mbappe followed, making his debut aged 18 in March 2017, and the young striker starred as France won their second World Cup in Moscow in 2018.

Mbappe went on to score a stunning hat-trick in the Doha final in 2022, when France were unable to deny Lionel Messi his crowning moment with Argentina.

This will be a seventh major tournament as coach for Deschamps, who so far has one title and two defeats in finals, and has made one semi-final in that time.

France also won the UEFA Nations League in 2021, and the next coach will have a lot to live up to.

Above all, Deschamps is a winner, usually favoring efficiency over style despite having a wealth of talent at his disposal.

He was widely criticized at Euro 2024 when France reached the semi-finals while scoring just four goals in six games -- two of which were own-goals and one a penalty.

"If you are bored you can watch something else," Deschamps replied to one question during that tournament suggesting France were dull.

However, France have looked highly impressive over the last year with a 4-2-3-1 system that makes room in attack for Mbappe, reigning Ballon d'Or Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich star Michael Olise.

Only West Germany between 1982 and 1990, and Brazil from 1994 to 2002, have previously reached three consecutive World Cup finals.

If he leads France to victory at the MetLife Stadium on July 19, he will become just the second coach to win the World Cup twice, after Italy's Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.

Then it will be time for a different challenge.

"I'm not ruling anything out. I'm available, as everyone knows. We will see," he said recently.

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Sports

‘Heat Dome’ Threatens Sweltering Conditions for World Cup Fans, Players

Ivory Coast goalkeeper Alban Lafont runs his hands through water from a sprinkler as he participates in a training session in Dallas, Monday, June 29, 2026, ahead of the team's World Cup soccer match against Norway. (AP)
Ivory Coast goalkeeper Alban Lafont runs his hands through water from a sprinkler as he participates in a training session in Dallas, Monday, June 29, 2026, ahead of the team's World Cup soccer match against Norway. (AP)
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‘Heat Dome’ Threatens Sweltering Conditions for World Cup Fans, Players

Ivory Coast goalkeeper Alban Lafont runs his hands through water from a sprinkler as he participates in a training session in Dallas, Monday, June 29, 2026, ahead of the team's World Cup soccer match against Norway. (AP)
Ivory Coast goalkeeper Alban Lafont runs his hands through water from a sprinkler as he participates in a training session in Dallas, Monday, June 29, 2026, ahead of the team's World Cup soccer match against Norway. (AP)

Extreme heat will greet fans and ‌players this week at the World Cup, as an imposing "heat dome" settles over the central and eastern United States - plus parts of Canada - as the knockout rounds progress.

The weather phenomenon known as a "heat dome" - a large area of high pressure that traps heat and humidity - could lead to dangerously high temperatures, with heat indices set to hit 105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the Midwest and East Coast, according to the US National Weather Service.

Those conditions are set to extend through the Fourth of July holiday weekend in the US, which is celebrating its 250th anniversary, with matches from Toronto to Kansas City to East Rutherford, New Jersey and Philadelphia all feeling the heat.

"Even after the sun goes down, it's still going to be ‌very hot," said ‌AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert. "We're at a pattern that's really going ‌to ⁠be hot during ⁠the good portion of the afternoon and even into the evening hours."

Reppert projects that New York, which will welcome fans for a Round of 16 match in nearby New Jersey on July 5, will see temperatures reach their highest levels since 2013. He added that even matches played in the evening could be affected.

"The sun will be down," he said. "That will help make things better, but it's still going to be hot."

HYDRATION BREAKS FEATURE AT TOURNAMENT

The conditions have the potential ⁠to reignite the issue of player safety and welfare that came ‌up a year ago during the Club World Cup, ‌which was held in the US, when FIFPRO said the scorching weather should serve as a "wake-up call."

FIFA ‌instituted mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in each half in every match for the World ‌Cup this year, a measure that supporters say benefits player welfare, but critics argue disrupts the flow of play at the tournament.

World soccer's governing body did not immediately respond to a request for comment on any additional measures that could be taken for player or fan safety during the expected period of ‌intense heat.

Toronto, which will host a Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia on Thursday, put its "Heat Relief Strategy" into effect ⁠after Environment and ⁠Climate Change Canada issued a heat warning that runs from Tuesday through Friday.

Three of the stadiums hosting matches under the umbrella of the heat dome - Atlanta, Dallas and Houston - have retractable roofs and air conditioning, offering significant relief.

But even the stroll to the modern home of the Dallas Cowboys can feel more like a firewalk, with the concrete-and-asphalt-laden Texas city built for cars and primed to absorb heat.

Alina Mitina, an emergency department physician for Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, said fans should seek out shade as much as possible and watch out for telltale signs of heat-related illness, including dizziness.

"Shady areas will really save lives in these types of situations," said Mitina. "So as long as there's lots of shade and areas to buy water, I think they're going to be in really good shape."

Sports

Lebanon’s Brazil Fans Celebrate a World Cup Round of 32 Win

Supporters of Brazil's national team celebrate, after Brazil defeated Japan in a Round of 32 soccer match at the FIFA World Cup, in Zgharta, northern Lebanon, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP)
Supporters of Brazil's national team celebrate, after Brazil defeated Japan in a Round of 32 soccer match at the FIFA World Cup, in Zgharta, northern Lebanon, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP)
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Lebanon’s Brazil Fans Celebrate a World Cup Round of 32 Win

Supporters of Brazil's national team celebrate, after Brazil defeated Japan in a Round of 32 soccer match at the FIFA World Cup, in Zgharta, northern Lebanon, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP)
Supporters of Brazil's national team celebrate, after Brazil defeated Japan in a Round of 32 soccer match at the FIFA World Cup, in Zgharta, northern Lebanon, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP)

In the northern Lebanese town of Zgharta, Brazilian flags hung from balconies and stone alleyways as families prepared for Brazil’s Round of 32 FIFA World Cup match against Japan.

Children wearing yellow jerseys played football in the streets, while cafés and public squares filled with supporters draped in green and yellow, reflecting a passion for Brazil that stretches across Lebanon.

The connection between the two countries runs deep. Government estimates say between 7 million and 10 million Brazilians have Lebanese ancestry, more than Lebanon’s population of about 6 million.

Those family and cultural ties, shaped by over a century of migration, have helped make Brazil one of the most widely supported national football teams across Lebanon.

Children wearing Brazil jerseys carry a Brazilian flag and a soccer ball as they head with their family to watch the Round of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at the FIFA World Cup, in Zgharta, northern Lebanon, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP)

For many Lebanese fans, Brazil’s attacking style of play, flair and history of producing legendary players have also inspired generations of supporters, passing that passion from parents to their children.

As kickoff approached, drums echoed through the streets and fans gathered around screens to cheer every attack.

“Today we had to work a bit for the win, but I was sure we were going to win,” said Brazil supporter Bagus Fadlallah. “We’re Brazil, and we’ll show everyone what Brazil is really made of.”

After Brazil’s victory, supporters in villages and cities across Lebanon took to the streets, waving Brazilian flags, beating drums and celebrating a team many Lebanese have supported for generations.

Sports

‘We Came from Nothing’: DR Congo Dreams of England World Cup Upset

Congo's Yoane Wissa (20) celebrates scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group K soccer match between DR Congo and Uzbekistan in Atlanta, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP)
Congo's Yoane Wissa (20) celebrates scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group K soccer match between DR Congo and Uzbekistan in Atlanta, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP)
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‘We Came from Nothing’: DR Congo Dreams of England World Cup Upset

Congo's Yoane Wissa (20) celebrates scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group K soccer match between DR Congo and Uzbekistan in Atlanta, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP)
Congo's Yoane Wissa (20) celebrates scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group K soccer match between DR Congo and Uzbekistan in Atlanta, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP)

DR Congo's long road to a first World Cup in 52 years has been beset by challenges that their English opponents in the last 32 on Wednesday could scarcely imagine.

Despite having to navigate 13 qualifiers, a pre-tournament quarantine due to an Ebola outbreak and the instability caused by decades of conflict, the war-torn nation is making its mark on the global stage.

"It's not easy in our country," said Yoane Wissa after his two goals secured his nation's first World Cup win against Uzbekistan and a meeting against England, where the Newcastle striker has played his club football for the past five years.

That is by no means the only English connection in the squad.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was born in London and played for England to under-21 level.

Axel Tuanzebe also represented the Three Lions at youth level and could come up against his former schoolmate and teammate Marcus Rashford in Atlanta.

Of the 26-man squad, 20 were born outside of Congo -- the majority, like Wissa, in France.

The battle for the mineral-rich East Congo has sparked a decades-long conflict between a litany of armed groups and forced families to flee, seeking security in Europe.

"There's a war in East Congo. Every day, every time we wear this shirt, we think about them," added Wissa.

"Because we want peace and for them, I just say 'thank you'. Thank you because we came from far. We came from nothing to be here. Now we write our story with a black pen and we need to be proud."

The roots of an inspiring story on the field come from that tragic backdrop.

Sourcing and recruiting dual-national players has become crucial for smaller nations to punch above their weight in international football.

- 'New generation wants to help' -

Wan-Bissaka was one of those who initially needed some convincing.

Signed by Manchester United for £50 million ($66 million) when just 21, DR Congo swooped when the England career he imagined he would have failed to materialize.

But as the Leopards' star has risen, players are becoming increasingly keen to join the Congolese cause.

Noah Sadiki represented Belgium at youth level and would almost certainly now be a mainstay for the Red Devils had the Sunderland midfielder not switched allegiance.

"There is a new generation that wants to help the people of the country," Sadiki told French sports paper L'Equipe.

Competing as Zaire in 1974, the country's only previous World Cup ended in embarrassment with 14 goals conceded in three defeats.

Over half a century on, Congo's new generation have given a nation reason to dream.

The outbreak of Ebola that has claimed more than 300 lives had had an impact on the team's World Cup preparations.

The United States imposed a 21-day isolation period on players in Belgium before they were allowed to enter.

Their most famous fan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga -- known for his statue-like pose honoring the country's first prime minister Patrice Lumumba -- was denied entry to the US.

But the team led by Sebastien Desabre, a Frenchman, has defied the odds.

Congo eliminated African powerhouses Cameroon and Nigeria in qualifying before sealing their place with victory over Jamaica in an inter-continental play-off in March.

Desabre's men then thwarted Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal as Wissa's header secured a 1-1 draw in their opening World Cup game.

A narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia meant they had to beat Uzbekistan to reach the knockout stages for the first time.

Roared on by thousands from the Congolese diaspora in the stands, Wissa was the hero once more in a 3-1 win.

The challenge of England, one of the favorites for the competition, awaits.

But Congo are unlikely to be overawed given the hurdles they have scaled to get to this stage.