Didier Deschamps eyes World Cup coaching record with potential victory over Iraq

Didier Deschamps, the current coach of the French national football team, stands on the cusp of setting a new record for the most wins by a manager in World Cup history. Deschamps, who has led Les Bleus since 2012, is set to step down after the 2026 World Cup, his final tournament in charge.

His coaching career has already seen him achieve significant milestones. Deschamps is one of only three individuals to have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach, alongside Brazil's Mário Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer. His journey in the World Cup as a manager began in 2014.

Following France's opening match victory against Senegal in the current tournament, Deschamps reached 16 World Cup match wins, equaling the record held by the legendary German coach Helmut Schön. Schön managed the German national team from 1964 to 1978, leading them to the 1974 World Cup title.

With France scheduled to play Iraq, a victory in this match would see Deschamps become the sole record holder for the most managerial wins in World Cup history. Additionally, Deschamps is also nearing Schön's record for the most matches managed in the tournament, currently at 19 wins compared to Schön's 25. Reaching the quarterfinals would tie him with Schön, while advancing to the semifinals would set a new benchmark.