Didier Deschamps is keeping his feet firmly on the ground ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even after guiding the French national team to back-to-back finals in the last two editions.

The French national team, known as Les Bleus, remain one of the prime contenders for the upcoming tournament due to their consistent performances in recent years.

Under the leadership of Didier Deschamps, France reached the final in both of the last two World Cup editions before 2026. In 2018, they triumphed over Croatia to capture the title. Four years later, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the team once again reached the final but fell short against Argentina after a 3-3 draw and a penalty shootout defeat.

Given such achievements, it's no surprise that Kylian Mbappe and his teammates are once again tipped to make it to the final and possibly lift the trophy in 2026. However, despite the widespread confidence in his team, Deschamps himself remains cautious.

The 57-year-old coach even admitted that he doesn’t appreciate being cast as a favourite heading into the competition.

“This is a major tournament. Some people already think we’re set for July 19 (the final),” Deschamps said, as quoted by RFI. “I don’t really like that kind of talk, not at all,” added the former Olympique Marseille manager.

Deschamps acknowledged that it’s understandable for people to rate France highly, given their status as one of the world’s top teams in recent years. Still, he emphasised that such expectations don’t guarantee success in the 2026 World Cup, as there are many steps to take before reaching the final.

In fact, with the tournament expanding from 36 to 48 participating nations, Deschamps believes the path to the final will be more challenging than ever. The increased competition and rising quality of teams make it far from a straightforward journey.

“Yes, we are among the best teams,” said Deschamps, who has managed Les Bleus for nearly 14 years. “But I know very well that there are several key stages we must go through before thinking about such an achievement (the final).”

“We will do everything possible to get there (the 2026 World Cup final),” he concluded.

Deschamps’ ambitions extend beyond just reaching the final—he also aims to win the title. The 2026 tournament could mark his final campaign as France’s head coach, as he is expected to step down after it concludes.

Throughout nearly 14 years at the helm, Deschamps has overseen 177 matches, securing 115 victories. His most notable accomplishments include winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League with Les Bleus.