Didier Deschamps will not be on the touchline when France face Norway in their final Group I fixture at the FIFA World Cup, after the France manager flew home to attend his mother's funeral.

The French Football Federation confirmed that Deschamps received the news of his mother's passing on Tuesday morning and was granted compassionate leave to return to France from North America. Assistant manager Guy Stephan will lead the side in his absence on Friday, June 26.

Group I standings heading into the finale

The result between France and Norway will have little bearing on their immediate futures — both sides have already secured a place in the round of 32, having each won their opening two matches against Senegal and Iraq.

France and Norway sit level at the summit of Group I, with France holding the edge on goal difference. The group winner will face one of the best eight third-placed teams in the round of 32 before a likely last-16 showdown with Germany, should both sides advance.

The runner-up from Group I will meet their counterpart from Group E — a spot that currently appears set for Ivory Coast, though Ecuador and Curacao remain in contention.

The match kicks off at 3pm local time — 8pm UK time — at Gillette Stadium in Boston.

A changing of the guard on the horizon

Deschamps has been at the helm of the French national team since 2012 and previously announced that he will stand down once the World Cup concludes. There is no confirmation yet of when he is expected to rejoin the squad in North America ahead of France's round-of-32 match, scheduled for Tuesday, June 30.

Zinedine Zidane is reported to have reached a verbal agreement to succeed Deschamps — his former Juventus and France teammate. The pair shared glory on home soil at the 1998 World Cup and added the European Championship crown two years later. Deschamps went on to claim a third major honour as manager, lifting the trophy at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

France's most recent tournament appearance ended in heartbreak: a 4-3 defeat to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final — widely regarded as one of the finest matches in the competition's history.