Zinedine Zidane's tenure as France head coach begins tonight as Turkiye host Les Bleus in a Nations League A1 clash at the Kocaeli Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.45pm BST on Friday, September 25, 2026.
A new era for Les Bleus
France return to action after a disappointing World Cup campaign, where they finished fourth after losing to eventual winners Spain in the semi-final and then England in the bronze final. Didier Deschamps has since stepped down, with Zidane taking over for his first managerial role since leaving Real Madrid in May 2021.
Zidane had turned down every job offer he received in the last five years to become national team coach, and his debut in the France dugout is sure to draw attention from around the world.
Turkiye's World Cup struggles
Turkiye 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.
Real Madrid team-mates Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe will be rivals tonight as the two sides meet.
How to watch Turkiye 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, and coverage begins around 10 minutes before kick-off.
