Turkey vs France Football 25 September 2026: A New Nations League Chapter in Kocaeli

Turkey enter this Nations League meeting with a significant milestone ahead, as this is their first campaign in League A.

France, meanwhile, arrive for the opening match of Group A1 with a new coach and a familiar group of elite-level players.

The French Football Federation appointed Zinedine Zidane as Didier Deschamps’ successor, making this his first competitive match in charge of Les Bleus.

UEFA has placed Turkey, France, Italy and Belgium together in Group A1, meaning every early result carries weight in a demanding six-match phase.

The opening fixture is scheduled for 25 September at Kocaeli Stadyumu, with kick-off at 20:45 CET.

Both federations have confirmed the match details, while the official starting XIs were released before kick-off.

The tactical question is particularly interesting because Turkey have selected Arda Güler, Can Uzun and Barış Alper Yılmaz in the starting attack, while France have gone with Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé.

That places considerable emphasis on how Turkey handle France’s movement between the lines and how effectively the hosts can create space for Güler.

France’s midfield contains Rayan Cherki, Manu Koné and Adrien Rabiot, giving Zidane a combination of technical quality and central passing options from the outset.

Turkey respond with Salih Özcan and İsmail Yüksek behind their attacking players, a structure that can provide additional protection while allowing Güler to operate higher.

The official lineups also show Uğurcan Çakır starting in goal for Turkey and Mike Maignan for France.

Neither side needs to look beyond the opening fixture for motivation: the group also contains Italy and Belgium, making the first points especially significant.

The injury picture has also shaped the squads, although the officially documented information is more limited than some pre-match reports suggest.

For Turkey, the Turkish federation reported on 24 September that Orkun Kökçü was still experiencing pain in his toe and missed the final training session before the match.

The same federation reported that goalkeeper Muhammed Şengezer had resumed training after a minor injury, but neither player was included in Turkey’s published starting XI or substitutes listed for this match.

For France, UEFA’s current squad information records Robin Risser being replaced by Jean Butez and Ibrahima Konaté being replaced by Lény Yoro in the September squad, while Warren Zaïre-Emery was also reported as having withdrawn from the group.

Because the official sources do not provide sufficiently detailed current injury descriptions for every absent player, no additional names are presented here as confirmed injuries.

This keeps the injury information limited to documented squad and medical-status updates rather than turning media speculation into fact.

French and Turkish pre-match coverage has naturally focused on the beginning of Zidane’s tenure, but the discussion has also centred on how his France side will look structurally rather than simply on the identity of the coach.

French reporting highlighted the possibility of a more aggressive attacking setup, while UEFA’s preview placed particular attention on Zidane’s first Nations League match and the players capable of shaping the new cycle.

Turkey’s side, meanwhile, has the advantage of a home setting and a midfield-to-attack group built around players such as Güler and Uzun.

The official teams confirm that the headline individual battle will include Güler against a French midfield containing Cherki, Koné and Rabiot, while Mbappé leads France’s attack.

Historically, the two nations have met eight times before this fixture, with Turkey recording one victory, France five and two draws, according to the Turkish federation.

The latest meeting before this one was a 1-1 draw in Paris in October 2019, but neither the old head-to-head record nor previous meetings determine what happens in this new Nations League campaign.

🚑 Squad Availability & Injury Report

Türkiye

France

The France federation’s official squad information confirms the withdrawals of Risser and Konaté and the subsequent replacements, while the Paris Île-de-France Football League also records Zaïre-Emery as having withdrawn. No unsupported injury diagnosis has been added where the official sources do not specify one.

📋 Matchday Elevens: The Confirmed Personnel

Türkiye — Confirmed Starting XI

France — Confirmed Starting XI

Key Points Before Kick-Off

• Turkey are competing in UEFA Nations League League A for the first time.
• Group A1 also contains Italy and Belgium, alongside Turkey and France.
• Zinedine Zidane is beginning his competitive tenure as France head coach.
• Arda Güler starts for Turkey, while Kylian Mbappé starts for France.
• The Turkish federation records eight previous meetings between the teams: one Turkey win, five France wins and two draws.

What the Press Is Saying Before the Game

French coverage has placed the emphasis on the beginning of Zidane’s competitive tenure and the tactical choices visible in his first team selection.
Reports before kick-off focused particularly on the role of Mbappé and the attacking structure around him, while the confirmed XI shows Olise, Dembélé and Mbappé together from the start.
Other French reporting has framed the match as the first opportunity to see how Zidane’s ideas translate from training into a competitive setting.
UEFA’s own preview similarly identifies the France coach’s debut as one of the main storylines of the opening Nations League round.
The Turkish side has drawn attention because of the step up to League A and the attacking responsibility carried by players such as Arda Güler.
The confirmed lineups now provide the clearest indication of the personnel each coach has chosen for the opening test.

Variation Rule: This article deliberately begins with the competition context and coaching transition rather than the venue or injury list, then moves through tactical contrast, availability, press coverage and finally the confirmed personnel. The main narrative is limited to four six-line paragraphs to keep the structure distinct from previous match descriptions.