Didier Deschamps Responds to the French Team’s Upcoming Schedule

The French national team has learned about its upcoming opponents in the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Senegal, Norway, and the winner of the intercontinental playoff (Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq). France is placed in Group I, with all matches taking place on the East Coast of North America—a favorable situation for coach Didier Deschamps.

“The advantage of Group I is that our match times will remain almost unchanged, around 3 PM, which coincides with prime time (9 PM) in France. Freshness and physical condition will be crucial. It’s not just about the time itself, but more about the temperatures and humidity, combined with the frequency of matches and a long competition that may have shorter recovery times. Freshness and physical condition will be the most important factors,” he stated via RMC Sport. The French team will face Senegal on June 16 and Norway on June 26, both at 9 PM French time. The match against the winner of the intercontinental playoff is scheduled for June 22 at 11 PM French time.