Zidane manages his first match for the Bleus against Turkey

The decisive moment of the evening will be the appointment of Zinedine Zidane, who will lead the French national team in the first official match under Zinedine Zidane in the Nations League, against Turkey on 25 September 2026 at 20:45, and will try to overturn the recent defeat of France against England.

Context and stakes

The match will take place on 25/09/2026 at 20:45, at a stadium whose name has not been disclosed, under the supervision of a Turkish referee. It is part of the Nations League, with live commentary broadcast on TF1. The encounter pits Turkey against the French national team, marking the first matchday of the 2026 group stage.

The French national team arrive on the pitch after a heavy 6‑4 defeat to England, while the Turks are looking to wash away the World Cup embarrassment, where they were eliminated in the group stage after a single victory against the United States. The last confrontation between the two sides dates back to 2019, ending in a 1‑1 draw.

Line‑ups and statistics

The Turkish line‑up will be a 3‑4‑3, with A. Bardakcı, Yüksek, F. Kadıoğlu, S. Özcan, M. Çelik, C. Uzun, M. Demiral, U. Çakır, O. Aydın, A. Güler and B. Yılmaz in the starting XI, complemented by substitutes including Y. Akgün and M. Aktürkoğlu. France will line up in a 4‑3‑3 with J. Koundé, M. Maignan, M. Dembélé, K. Mbappé, Lottin, M. Olise, A. Rabiot‑Provost, M. Cherki, D. Upamecano, M. Lacroix, A. Truffert and K. Koné, supported by a bench featuring B. Barcola, D. Doué and E. Camavinga.

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The social media accounts of the French national team relayed the match launch with the hashtag #TURFRA, reminding that the French are ready to start the Nations League. Another tweet presented the eleven selected by Zidane for this first matchday.

Preliminary statistics indicate a dominant possession of 70 % for both teams, 12 % off‑target shots, 7 % on‑target shots, a pass completion rate of 68 % and eight fouls committed.

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This first encounter marks the start of the 2026 Nations League campaign, giving Zidane the opportunity to lay the foundations of his tenure and the Turks the chance to prove they can move beyond the bitter memory of the World Cup.