It has been confirmed that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation is preparing to make a “massive offer” to the 2018 World Cup champion and 2022 runner-up coach, Didier Deschamps.
According to reports, the name of the French national team’s head coach, Didier Deschamps, is at the top of the list of candidates to lead “Al-Akhdar” (The Green) in the next phase, as part of a long-term project extending until 2034.
It was announced last January that Deschamps intends to leave his position with the French national team after the end of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, without his next destination being decided.
Despite previous links to the possibility of working in a professional league, current interest is reportedly focused on him leading the national team, with a contract that could extend for eight years.
According to the information, Deschamps’s potential role would not be limited to the technical aspect only. It would also include restructuring the football system, developing training curricula, qualifying new coaches, and updating talent discovery mechanisms within the Kingdom, as part of a Saudi effort to build a team capable of competing with the world’s top national teams.
The final decision is said to remain contingent on Deschamps’s position and whether he is ready to undertake a long-term project of this scale and ambition.
This search process comes after a recent decline in the results of the Saudi national team, which failed to qualify directly for the World Cup and had to wait for the playoffs, before being eliminated from the Arab Cup in the semi-finals by the Jordanian national team a few days ago.
Saudi Arabian Football Federation
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) was founded in 1956 and is the governing body for football in Saudi Arabia. It organizes the country’s domestic leagues and oversees the national teams, most notably the men’s national team which has qualified for multiple FIFA World Cups since its first appearance in 1994.
2018 World Cup
The 2018 FIFA World Cup was an international football tournament hosted by Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018. It was the first World Cup held in Eastern Europe and saw France win its second title, defeating Croatia 4–2 in the final held in Moscow.
2022 runner-up
The “2022 runner-up” refers to the second-place finisher in a competition held that year, such as a sporting event, election, or talent show. Its history is specific to the particular contest, but it generally signifies a notable achievement just short of the ultimate victory.
Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps is a former French professional footballer and the current manager of the France national team. As a player, he captained France to victory in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000, and as a manager, he led the team to a World Cup title in 2018. His career is defined by his leadership and success in both playing and coaching roles for his country.
French national team
The French national football team, known as Les Bleus, is the men’s senior national team representing France in international football. It was formed in 1904 and is managed by the French Football Federation, having won two FIFA World Cup titles (1998 and 2018) and two UEFA European Championships (1984 and 2000).
Al-Akhdar
Al-Akhdar, also known as the Green Mountain, is a prominent mountainous region in eastern Libya, historically significant as a natural fortress and a center for resistance. It served as a key stronghold for Libyan forces during the Italian colonization in the early 20th century. The area is also noted for its unique Mediterranean forest ecosystem and ancient archaeological sites.
The Green
“The Green” is a historic public park located in the heart of Newark, Delaware, established in the 18th century as a central common ground for the community. It has served as a site for public gatherings, markets, and military musters throughout its long history, and is surrounded by significant buildings like the University of Delaware’s Old College.
2034
“2034” is not a known historical place or cultural site; it appears to be a reference to the year 2034, which is in the future. As such, it does not have an established history or cultural significance to summarize.
2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams and will be jointly hosted by 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This will be the first World Cup hosted by three nations and marks the first time Canada has hosted the event, while Mexico will become the first country to host the men’s World Cup three times.
United States
The United States is a federal republic founded in 1776 following its Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, with its current government established by the U.S. Constitution in 1789. It grew from thirteen original colonies to span the North American continent, becoming a global economic and military power in the 20th century. The nation’s culture is a complex blend of diverse immigrant influences and indigenous heritage, marked by a history of expansion, industrialization, and ongoing social and political evolution.
Canada
Canada is a North American country formed in 1867 through confederation, evolving from earlier British and French colonial territories. It is known for its vast wilderness, multicultural society, and historical development as a constitutional monarchy with close ties to both its Indigenous heritage and European settlers.
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country with a rich history spanning from advanced pre-Columbian civilizations like the Maya and Aztec to Spanish colonization in the 16th century and independence in 1821. Its cultural sites, such as the ancient city of Teotihuacán and the historic center of Mexico City, reflect this deep and layered heritage.
Kingdom
The term “Kingdom” is broad, but if referring to the historical Kingdom of France, it was a major European power that existed from the early Middle Ages until the French Revolution in 1792. It was ruled by a monarchy, most famously the Bourbon dynasty, and its centralized state and culture profoundly shaped modern France.
Saudi national team
The Saudi national football team, representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is governed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. It rose to prominence in Asian football during the 1980s and achieved its most significant success by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 1994, where it reached the round of 16.
World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is an international football tournament first held in 1930 in Uruguay. Organized by FIFA, it is contested every four years by the senior men’s national teams of its member associations and is the world’s most widely viewed sporting event.
Arab Cup
The Arab Cup is a regional international football tournament organized by FIFA and the Arab Football Association, first held in 1963. It features national teams from Arab nations and has been revived periodically, most recently in 2021 when it served as a test event for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Jordanian national team
The Jordanian national football team, known as “Al-Nashama,” represents Jordan in international men’s football and is governed by the Jordan Football Association. Founded in 1949, the team has grown in prominence, achieving notable successes such as reaching the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals in 2004 and 2011 and advancing to the knockout stage of the 2023 edition.
