Nations League, major stake for Zidane's Blues

The France national team kicks off on Friday at 20:45 against Turkey, opening its 2026‑2027 Nations League campaign and marking the first match of the Zinedine Zidane era as head of the Bleus.

A competition already strategic

The Nations League, criticized by some for its lack of sporting stakes, nevertheless offers high‑level fixtures between the continent’s major nations. After the 1‑1 draw between the Netherlands and Germany, France will face Turkey this Friday, while Italy will host Belgium in the other group match.

Direct implications for Euro 2028

As in previous editions, the Nations League can serve as a joker for qualification to Euro 2028. If the Bleus finish first in Group 1, they will be guaranteed at least a place in the playoffs, which will ease the pressure during the qualification draw scheduled for early December.

A good result in the Nations League could also allow France to aim for the competition’s Final Four, a second title after the 2021 one, and thus approach the Euro 2028 qualifiers in better conditions.

France choose Izmit over Istanbul to face Turkey

The previous edition showed the League’s usefulness: Portugal, the champion, saw Sweden benefit from its Ligue C victory to qualify for the 2026 World Cup playoffs, then reach the round of 16 before being eliminated by France.

For Kylian Mbappé’s and Ousmane Dembélé’s teammates, every point matters. A victory against Turkey would strengthen the group position and provide a safety net against potential difficulties during the European qualifiers.

In summary, the Nations League is not just a series of friendly matches: it already constitutes a key element in the Bleus’ strategy ahead of Euro 2028.