Zinedine Zidane has been appointed head coach of the France men’s national football team, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday.

The 54-year-old takes over from Didier Deschamps, who stepped down following the 2026 FIFA World Cup after leading France for 14 years.

Zidane’s appointment comes after France’s disappointing campaign at the tournament in North America. Widely regarded as one of the favourites, Les Bleus were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals before losing to England in the third-place playoff.

The former France captain returns to coaching for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, where he enjoyed one of the most successful managerial spells in modern football.

“I have often said there is nothing greater than the French national team. It is therefore a joy and obviously a great honor to become the coach of France. It is also a responsibility,” Zidane said in a statement released by the FFF.

“I want to thank President Philippe Diallo, the Executive Committee and the French Football Federation for their trust and salute the fourteen years of Didier and his staff. I also have a special thought today for all my teachers. Needless to say, I have a lot of ambition for the French team.”

As a player, Zidane is regarded as one of France’s greatest footballers. He inspired the country to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1998, scoring twice in the 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final, before helping France win the UEFA European Championship in 2000.

His international playing career ended in dramatic fashion when he was sent off during the 2006 World Cup final against Italy following his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi.

Zidane now aims to emulate Deschamps by winning the World Cup as both a player and a coach.

Speaking at his unveiling, Zidane said coaching the French national team had always been his ambition.

“It’s a continuation for me, a dream come true. Over the last four or five years, I’ve received offers to lead a club and I rejected them all for the France national team. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted to do,” he said.

Zidane brings an outstanding club coaching record to the role. During two spells in charge of Real Madrid, he guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga championships and two FIFA Club World Cup trophies.

His immediate challenge will be preparing France for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, with a squad featuring attacking stars including Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola.

“We’ll be doing things differently. Deschamps is Deschamps, Zidane is Zidane. I will do what I know how to do,” he said. “I guarantee continuity so that the French national team keeps winning.”

Afghanistan’s Economic Commission has approved a series of measures to expand the capacity of Sher Khan Port in an effort to strengthen trade with Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.

The commission, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, met on Tuesday to review proposals submitted by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation aimed at increasing regional trade through the northern border crossing.

According to the approved plan, the Ministries of Finance, Interior, and other relevant institutions will develop new infrastructure at Sher Khan Port and expand existing facilities to accommodate growing trade volumes.

The commission also approved extending the port’s operating hours in coordination with Tajikistan to facilitate the movement of a greater number of commercial vehicles and improve cross-border trade.

In addition, the Ministry of Finance was instructed to allocate funding for the construction of a logistics center at Sher Khan Port. The facility will provide customs services, warehousing, cargo handling, and freight-loading operations to streamline trade activities.

The meeting also directed the Ministry of Public Works to construct the necessary railway infrastructure inside Afghanistan to activate the ECO railway corridor, a regional transport initiative linking Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan under the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Separately, the commission decided that several state-owned entities will transfer their scrap iron to the National Development Company, which will process the material into standard steel reinforcing bars (rebar) for use in major government infrastructure projects.

The commission also endorsed 37 national standards and 12 testing methods proposed by the National Standards and Quality Authority. The standards cover agricultural products, food items, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, telecommunications and electrical equipment, chemicals, plastics, medical equipment, and several other sectors. Officials said the standards were developed in line with Afghanistan’s current needs and international benchmarks.

The meeting concluded with the presentation of follow-up reports on a number of ongoing issues, and relevant institutions were given the necessary directives. All decisions adopted during the session have been forwarded to the Office of the Supreme Leader for final approval.

Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says Afghanistan’s border security remains under control, stressing that attempts by smugglers and what he described as “criminal elements” to create instability are swiftly neutralized by border forces.

Speaking at the “Government Program Through the Lens of the Media” briefing on Tuesday, Mujahid said the country’s border forces are fully responsible for safeguarding Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and national interests, adding that the security situation along the borders is stable and reliable.

He said smugglers and “criminal elements” occasionally attempt to create security challenges in border areas, but maintained that such incidents are brought under control within minutes by Islamic Emirate forces.

Mujahid also highlighted the performance of the Ministry of Borders, Ethnicities and Tribes, saying it has made significant progress in strengthening national unity and resolving disputes over the past year.

According to him, the ministry settled 432 disputes during the past year and organized 33 major tribal and public gatherings across the country’s provinces aimed at promoting reconciliation and social cohesion.

Reiterating the Islamic Emirate’s foreign policy, Mujahid said the government follows an economy-oriented and connectivity-based approach and seeks positive relations with all countries in the region and beyond.

He also reaffirmed that Afghan territory will not be used against any other country, describing the policy as a key principle of the Islamic Emirate’s engagement with the international community.