The French national team's exit from the 2026 World Cup semi-finals was not just a disappointment, but also revealed an atmosphere of tension between the "Les Bleus" players and the coaching staff on one hand, and the management of the French Football Federation on the other.
According to a report by the French newspaper L'Equipe, the relationship between the two sides witnessed a noticeable decline during the months leading up to the tournament, with escalating disputes over several issues, most notably bonuses, the provision of recovery facilities, and travel arrangements for the players' families.
The crisis began before the start of the World Cup during the French national team's tour of the United States in March, after the president of the French Federation, Philippe Diallo, announced in press statements that he already knew the identity of the coach who would lead the team in the future, which was not welcomed by coach Didier Deschamps, who considered the matter to be exceeding the limits of the current stage.
Principles, family trips, succession from Deschamps... : Comment the degradation of relations with the FFF in order to open the Coupe in the Blue
The coaching staff and players had requested cryotherapy sessions to cope with the difficult weather conditions and high temperatures during the tournament matches in the United States.
But the request was initially rejected due to the cost, before the team's captain, Kylian Mbappe, intervened and insisted on providing this service as an important part of the recovery and physical preparation process.
The organization of trips for French Football Federation officials sparked controversy within the national team, after several members of the executive office traveled in premium travel classes at a high cost of nearly 120,000 euros, while there were seats that could have been allocated to the players' families.
The difference in hospitality between federation officials and players' families during some events also caused resentment within the camp, with some considering that there was unequal treatment between the two sides.
The issue of bonuses was one of the most sensitive, after the federation's management wanted to amend the financial incentive system, so that bonuses would be more closely linked to reaching advanced stages, instead of the previous system that gave players bonuses when they reached lower stages.
According to L'Equipe, Mbappe objected to this approach, stressing that reaching the round of 16 or the quarter-finals of the World Cup remains an important achievement, especially since the players provide great value to the national team and the federation.
According to L'Equipe, Mbappe responded to the president, saying: "Mr. President, this is your first World Cup, but for me it's my third. Do you really think that reaching the round of 16 or the quarter-finals is worthless?"
In the end, an agreement was reached between the two parties before the start of the tournament, with the players receiving a large part of their demands, while the number of tickets allocated to their families was fixed at six tickets per player.
Tensions increased after France qualified for the semi-finals, when the president of the French Football Federation posted a congratulatory message on social media praising the team, but he did not mention Deschamps or the members of the coaching staff, which caused resentment within the team.
Although France had a strong squad and was one of the favorites to win the title, administrative crises and internal conflicts cast a shadow over "Les Bleus'" journey in the 2026 World Cup, opening the door to questions about the future of the relationship between the national team stars and the federation leadership after the end of Deschamps' era.
