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Türkiye vs France: Football fans are set for a major UEFA Nations League encounter as Türkiye host France in the opening round of League A, Group 1 on Friday, September 25, 2026. The match is scheduled to take place at Kocaeli Stadium in İzmit, Türkiye, with kick-off at 9:45 p.m. local time.
The fixture has attracted significant attention because it marks the beginning of a new era for the France national team under head coach Zinedine Zidane. Türkiye, meanwhile, are making their first appearance in Nations League League A and will face one of Europe’s leading international teams in their opening match.
Türkiye vs France Match Details
Key information for the match includes:
- Match: Türkiye vs France
- Competition: UEFA Nations League
- League: League A
- Group: Group 1
- Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
- Venue: Kocaeli Stadium, İzmit, Türkiye
- Kick-off: 9:45 p.m. local time
- International kick-off: 18:45 GMT
The Turkish Football Federation confirmed that the match will be played at Kocaeli Stadium and will be broadcast live on ATV in Türkiye.
Türkiye Begin League A Campaign
Türkiye enter a new stage of their Nations League journey after earning promotion to League A. Their opening assignment is against France, with further Group 1 fixtures scheduled against Italy and Belgium.
The Turkish side is managed by Vincenzo Montella, who has been preparing his squad for the demanding international campaign. The team completed its final training session before travelling to Kocaeli for the match.
The Turkish Football Federation reported that Orkun Kökçü missed the final training session because of continued toe pain, while goalkeeper Muhammed Şengezer returned to training.
Türkiye will also have attacking talent available, including Arda Güler, who was reported to be available despite earlier concerns about a knock.
France Begin Zidane Era
The match represents an important moment for France as Zinedine Zidane takes charge of the national team for the first time. Zidane replaced Didier Deschamps following the 2026 World Cup and has now selected his first France squad.
France’s squad contains a combination of established international players and newcomers. Six players are in line for potential international debuts, including Leny Yoro, Jeremy Jacquet, Esteban Lepaul, Lucas Da Cunha, Andy Diouf and Guillaume Restes.
The French team also includes captain Kylian Mbappé, who is expected to play after recovering from a minor fitness concern. Earlier in the week, Mbappé missed a training session because of flu-like symptoms, but Zidane subsequently confirmed that the forward was ready for the match.
Türkiye vs France Head-to-Head Record
Türkiye and France have faced each other eight times before Friday’s match, according to the Turkish Football Federation.
France have recorded five victories, Türkiye have won once, and the teams have drawn twice. France have scored 16 goals compared with Türkiye’s six across those meetings.
Their most recent meeting came in the EURO 2020 qualifying campaign in October 2019. The match in Paris ended 1-1, with Olivier Giroud scoring for France before Kaan Ayhan equalised for Türkiye.
France’s Recent International Form
France arrive after a strong run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the later stages of the competition. Their recent results included victories over Sweden, Norway, Paraguay and Morocco before defeats against Spain and England.
The Nations League now gives Zidane his first competitive opportunity to work with the squad and establish his preferred system and selection.
Türkiye vs France: Group 1 Schedule
The two teams are part of a demanding Group 1 containing Türkiye, France, Italy and Belgium.
After the opening match against Türkiye, France are scheduled to face Belgium away before hosting Italy and then Belgium in October. Türkiye will also meet Italy and Belgium during the opening international window.
Every group-stage match will contribute toward the final standings and the next stage of the Nations League.
Türkiye vs France Live Score and Latest Updates
Football fans searching for Türkiye vs France live score, Türkiye vs France lineup, Türkiye vs France highlights, France vs Türkiye today and Türkiye vs France match time can follow official competition updates and established sports platforms for real-time information.
The match is particularly significant because it combines Türkiye’s first League A campaign with the beginning of Zidane’s tenure as France coach. The result will also provide the first competitive indication of how both teams approach the new Nations League season.
