Türkiye is set to face a formidable challenge as it kicks off its UEFA Nations League campaign against France on Friday at Kocaeli Stadium. This match marks Türkiye’s return to League A since the competition’s inception in 2018, and they are contending with a France team now under the leadership of new head coach Zinedine Zidane.
The encounter poses a significant test for Vincenzo Montella’s squad, especially as Türkiye aims to bounce back from a lackluster 2026 World Cup performance. Historically, Türkiye has struggled against France, securing only one victory in their past six meetings—a 2-0 win during the European Championship qualifiers in 2019.
Adding to Türkiye’s challenges, midfielder Orkun Kökçü is uncertain to play due to a toe injury that has kept him from training. The team will also be fielding several players experiencing their first senior call-ups, potentially making for an unpredictable lineup.
On the other side, France is beginning a new chapter following the departure of former head coach Didier Deschamps. The French squad boasts high-profile players such as captain Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué. However, Mbappé’s participation is in question as he recently missed a training session due to flu-like symptoms. France is also managing several fitness concerns among its players.
Both teams are part of Group A1, which also includes Italy and Belgium. Following this opening match, Türkiye will continue its Nations League journey by hosting Italy on September 28 before away matches against Belgium and Italy in October.