Zinedine Zidane takes charge of France for the first time tonight as Turkey host the Nations League A1 clash at the Kocaeli Stadium, with kick-off at 7.45pm BST on Friday, September 25, 2026.
It is a new era for the France national team after Didier Deschamps stepped down following a fourth-place finish at this summer's World Cup, where Les Bleus lost to eventual winners Spain in the semi-final and then England in the bronze final.
Zidane's long-awaited return
Zidane, who left Real Madrid in May 2021, has taken his first managerial role since then, having turned down every job offer he received in the last five years to become national team coach. His debut in the France dugout is expected to draw attention from around the world.
Real Madrid team-mates Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe will be rivals tonight, with Guler representing Turkey and Mbappe lining up for France.
Turkey's World Cup struggles
Turkey underperformed at the World Cup, with a highly-talented squad eliminated at the group stage with a game to spare. Head coach Vincenzo Montella faces pressure to get a tune out of the squad, though he will be without the injured Kenan Yildiz.
How to watch Turkey vs France
UK viewers can watch the game on Prime Video UK, the broadcaster for Nations League matches that do not involve England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Each game costs £2.49, with coverage beginning around 10 minutes before kick-off.
