On the field, Didier Deschamps’ team successfully completed this mission, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. However, behind the scenes, French football boss Philippe Diallo has no shortage of work. Committed in several fields, the president of the French Football Federation invited several media, including franceinfo: sport, to examine the hot issue of 3F. He spoke at the end of November, after endorsing a historic budget of 300 million euros for the 2025-2026 season, or 12 more than in 2024-2025.
2026 World Cup: tour of the United States in March
After saying hello “A very positive performance from the Blues to qualify for the 8th time in a row” at the World Cup, “which also highlights the incredible training work“, Philippe Diallo details the next steps before the start of the 2026 edition. The first: finding a base camp for the Blues, which will be set after the draw on December 5, where the French will know their opponents, but above all the stadium where they will play. However, part of the French staff will fly in for initial reconnaissance even before this draw.
Another trip to the United States is planned in March, for the entire delegation, with two friendly matches “against Colombia in Florida and Brazil in Boston”announced Philippe Diallo, but said that there was no definite decision yet. “We still have to sort it out, things haven’t been signed yet but are on the right track. Brazil are the favorites, so we’re confident we won’t face them in the group. Colombia could be an opponent, so we’ll have to see”. Beyond the pedigree of his detractors, his ideas are what matter “to breathe this American air”, confirmed Philippe Diallo, before the announcement of his list in May and the preparations that followed.
Instead, June’s preparatory games will take place in France. “As we approach the World Cup, it is important for the French team to play at home to connect with France, before leaving”assured the FFF president, stating that they would not be at the Stade de France. “I would like these matches to be held there, but there is a big possibility that they will not be held there, because the Stade de France will not be available at the moment because of the concerts”he warned.
The Blues’ return to the Stade de France is planned but without a definite date
Since March 2025 and the match against Croatia, the Blues will no longer play at the Stade de France. And for good reason, this summer, the concession for the Saint-Denis region changed hands. The FFF have been in negotiations with new managers, GL Events, which explains why the Blues are hosts three times at the Parc des Princes this autumn. Successful negotiations, Philippe Diallo announced: “We have reached an agreement. We will move on to the contractualization phase of our relationship, that is good news. After rugby, football will also find its place again”. However, in two stages, because work will be carried out at the Stade de France until 2030.
“During the work, the FFF is free to choose whether to hold its matches at the Stade de France or not. Then, starting in 2030, the FFF is committed to ensuring the French team plays six matches over two seasons at the Stade de France, plus the Coupe de France final, with the possibility of playing four matches in one year and two matches the following season.”detailed Philippe Diallo, eager to be able to organize two or three more annual Blues meetings in the region.
Without revealing the numbers, but considering that in the previous contract, FFF arranged the Blues’ match with a defeat at the Stade de France, Philippe Diallo welcomed this new agreement. “carried out over the next 30 years, although there may be an early exit clause.” However, the FFF president was reluctant to announce an official return date for the Blues: “At the moment, we do not have a precise vision of the actual work to be carried out, its schedule and its stages.”
Green light for Ligue 3, relocated Coupe de France final?
The Stade de France issue is not only a concern for the Blues. On May 23, the FFF intends to host the 2026 Coupe de France final there. This was not possible because Grand Paris work around the enclosure area had to start on the same day. “This file has not been resolved. We continue to ask the public authorities to ensure that this final is played well at the Stade de France. My question is to know whether work on Greater Paris can begin after the final. I do not have the impression that this is an excessive request…”believes Philippe Diallo.
If Dyonisian’s home ground is not available, FFF will choose a stadium in the region, while “so that the location of this final continues to maintain sporting fairness”. Until then, the 3F president is keeping a close eye on the call for tenders for broadcasting rights for the Coupe de France, the results of which are expected on December 9. ““This is an important moment for the federation, as the Coupe de France is a very popular event… I hope the market will regain significant support for this event which will then allow us to finance French football.” recalls Philippe Diallo.
On the other hand, the uncertainty surrounding the launch of the new Ligue 3, replacing the National 1 championship (division 3), is much less. Supported by FFF, this project will be implemented starting next season, the president confirmed: “Because it depends on us, we will do it! Our team has already determined the format, and is working on the sporting and financial regulations, so that this championship can last for a long time. At the federal assembly in December 2025, part of the text for the future Ligue 3 will be presented, so that it can be launched for the 2026-2027 season.”
French football governance reform: Diallo targets 2026 start
In May 2025, after months of crisis, particularly regarding TV rights, Philippe Diallo launched a project to reform the governance of French football. The idea: to replace the Professional Football League (LFP) with a commercial company in which the clubs would be shareholders, with the FFF having control over the body. A project modeled on the British model, “important to modernize our football”emphasized Philippe Diallo. Slowed by government instability in recent months, the project was not abandoned. On the contrary.
“This will be a club association with directors appointed or dismissed by the clubs. There is no longer an elected president, there is no longer a board of directors. We still need to determine how the football family (players, coaches, referees) will be positioned in the future structure.”
Philippe Dialloon franceinfo: sport
“I gathered all the stakeholders in the FFF a few weeks ago. We share the same desire for reform, based on the FFF and the association of clubs led by independents. We have the unity of French football”assured Philippe Diallo. “I am pleased that the Minister of Sport cited this text as one of the priorities in his legislative project. We envisage the 2030 Olympics law will be the first law submitted to the National Assembly, and the text on the governance of French football will then be presented, in the first quarter of 2026.”
Which gives French football time to resolve some issues, “such as the scope of the FFF’s veto rights in this diagram, but also the deadline for the dissolution of the LFP after the law is enacted, the evolution of the LFP’s real estate rights and assets”, Philippe Diallo list. Another issue that has caused tension with certain clubs is the inclusion in the bill, when it passed the Senate in June, of an obligation for clubs to release players for the Olympics. “The sooner the law is passed, the more time we have to adopt it. The initial goal is implementation in 2026-2027.”, still hopes the FFF President.
