Zidane faces his first test in Kocaeli
Zinedine Zidane takes charge of the Blues for the first time. On Friday night, France meet Turkey in Kocaeli in their opening match of the 2026-2027 Nations League. Kick-off is set for 8:45 pm French time at a 33,000-seater stadium that also hosts Kocaelispor in the Turkish league.
Group A1 also includes Italy and Belgium, two tough opponents this autumn. More than anything, this date closes a chapter: Didier Deschamps has stepped down after the 2026 World Cup, and Zidane inherits a dressing room still shaped by that shared history. Kylian Mbappe keeps the armband, as confirmed by the new coach before the squad assembled at Clairefontaine. A win would be the perfect start, before hosting Italy the following Friday, on October 2.
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TF1 gets exclusive rights for the night
The match will be shown free-to-air on TF1 from 8:45 pm. No subscription is needed for this first France game under Zidane, an exclusive deal that stands out from the usual group-stage schedule, which is often split across several channels. The broadcaster is also streaming the game on TF1+, available on mobile, tablet and connected TVs, handy for anyone not sat in front of a regular set on Friday night.
Schedule subject to change by the tournament organisers or the broadcaster.
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