Kocaeli will host the opening note of France’s post-World Cup reset on Friday, when Türkiye welcome Les Bleus in Group A1 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League. The match at Kocaeli Stadyumu carries added weight as Zinedine Zidane takes charge of France for the first time in an official fixture.
Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps following the 2026 World Cup, where France reached the semi-finals before finishing fourth. The former France great now begins a new cycle with the 2028 European Championship on the horizon.
Quick facts
- Match: Türkiye vs France, UEFA Nations League Group A1
- Date: Friday, 25 September 2026
- Venue: Kocaeli Stadyumu, Kocaeli
- Kick-off: 12:45 Central Mexico time
- Mexico broadcast: Sky Sports, Sky+ and izzi
- Other Group A1 teams: Italy and Belgium
A demanding first night for Zidane
France arrive in north-west Türkiye looking to turn the page after their World Cup campaign and make a winning start under their new manager. The Nations League group offers little room for a slow beginning, with Italy and Belgium also competing for the leading places.
Türkiye, backed by a home crowd in Kocaeli, will see an opportunity to make an early statement against one of Europe’s strongest national sides. Points gained at the start could prove valuable in a section containing four major football nations.
The overall record favours France, who have won three of the six previous meetings. Türkiye have one victory, while two games have finished level.
Recent encounters, however, offer encouragement for the hosts. Türkiye beat France 2-0 at home earlier in the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, before the return match in October 2019 ended 1-1.
For Zidane, the trip to Kocaeli is more than a Nations League opener: it is the first public measure of a France era beginning after Deschamps. For Türkiye, it is a chance to revive the spirit of that 2019 home win and begin a difficult group on their own terms.
