Türkiye will open their UEFA Nations League campaign against France on Friday in Kocaeli, where Zinedine Zidane will take charge of Les Bleus for the first time in a competitive match.
The Group A1 meeting at Kocaeli Stadium is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. local time, with both teams looking to begin a new chapter after disappointing finishes at the 2026 World Cup.
The match marks Türkiye's first appearance in League A since the Nations League was introduced in 2018. The Crescent-Stars previously competed in Leagues B and C before earning their place among Europe's top-ranked group of teams.
Türkiye will remain at home for their next match, facing Italy in Bursa on Sept. 28. They will then travel to face Belgium on Oct. 2 before playing Italy away on Oct. 5. The group phase continues in November with meetings against Belgium and France.
The other Group A1 match Friday will see Italy host Belgium in Rome. Both matches are scheduled for the same time.
Vincenzo Montella's team enter the Nations League after a disappointing World Cup campaign that ended in the group stage. The tournament was Türkiye's first World Cup appearance since 2002.
The Nations League therefore offers an immediate opportunity for the Crescent-Stars to reset, although the opening assignment is particularly demanding against a France side packed with established international stars.
Türkiye have faced France six times, winning once, drawing once and losing four times. Their only victory came in a 2-0 European Championship qualifying win in June 2019.
The teams drew 1-1 in their most recent meeting in October 2019.
Friday's game will be the seventh meeting between the countries and the first since that 2019 qualifying campaign.
Türkiye midfielder Orkun Kökçü is not expected to feature after continuing to deal with pain in his toe.
Kökçü missed Türkiye's training sessions earlier this week and was again absent from Wednesday's session as he continued his treatment. TFF confirmed that he did not train with the team because of the injury.
Türkiye's squad also includes four players receiving their first senior call-ups: Adil Demirbağ, Bartuğ Elmaz, Melih Kabasakal and İlhan Fakılı.
Real Madrid forward Arda Güler is available, while Montella will have to balance his attacking options against a France defense that includes several players from Europe's leading clubs.
The match carries particular significance for France, as Zidane will make his competitive debut as national team coach.
The former France international and Real Madrid manager replaced Didier Deschamps following the World Cup. Zidane's first squad includes captain Kylian Mbappe as well as attacking options such as Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Desire Doue. Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet is among the new faces called into the squad.
France finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup after losing to eventual champion Spain in the semifinals before suffering a 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff.
The result brought an end to Deschamps' tenure and opened the door for Zidane, who begins his reign with a difficult away fixture.
Mbappe remains the centerpiece of the French attack. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 international goals and continues to captain the team. He missed a training session earlier this week because of flu-like symptoms, although his availability remains an important part of France's preparations.
France's squad also has several absences. Aurelien Tchouameni was left out amid fitness concerns, while other players have missed the camp because of injuries.
Türkiye's promotion to League A brings them into a group containing three major European football nations.
France, Italy, Belgium and Türkiye make up Group A1, with each team scheduled to play the others home and away.
France won the Nations League in 2021, while they finished third in the 2024-25 edition after beating Germany in the third-place playoff.
For Türkiye, the immediate task is to establish themselves at the highest level of the competition.
Friday's encounter also gives Kocaeli another chance to host the national team. Türkiye previously played Chile at the old İsmetpaşa Stadium in 2008, winning 1-0, before beating Georgia 4-1 at Kocaeli Stadium in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in October 2025.
