The France–Türkiye match ended with a 1-0 victory for France on Friday, September 25, 2026, as Kylian Mbappé scored the decisive goal in the opening round of the UEFA Nations League.
The result gave France three points in Group A1 and marked a winning start for Zinédine Zidane in his first match as head coach of the national team.
Türkiye hosted the match at Kocaeli Stadyumu, where the teams played a tightly contested first half before France found the breakthrough after the interval.
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Mbappé settles France Turkey meeting
Mbappé put France ahead in the 54th minute, with Michael Olise providing the assist.
The goal gave France the lead in a match that had remained scoreless through the opening 45 minutes.
France controlled 62 per cent of possession and finished with 11 shots, according to the match data, while Türkiye also recorded 11 attempts.
Türkiye tested France’s defence but could not convert its opportunities into an equalizer.
The home side was reduced to 10 players late in the match when goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır was sent off in the 87th minute.
France held on through added time to secure a clean sheet and begin its Nations League campaign with a narrow away win.
Winning start for Zidane
The match was Zidane’s first competitive game in charge of France after his appointment to lead the team into a new international cycle.
France entered the campaign after finishing third in the previous Nations League edition, including a 2-0 victory over Germany in the third-place match in June 2025.
The French side also arrived after reaching the latter stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where it lost to Spain in the semi-finals before falling to England in the third-place match.
Zidane’s first assignment therefore came against a Türkiye side that had qualified for the 2026 World Cup and was making its debut in the top tier of the Nations League.
The former France captain selected a starting attack featuring Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Olise, with France eventually relying on its captain to provide the difference.
What the result means for Group A1
France begins Group A1 with three points, while Türkiye starts the six-match league phase without a point.
The group also includes Belgium and Italy, who are scheduled to meet in the opening round.
| Team | Opening result | Points |
|---|---|---|
| France | Won 1-0 at Türkiye | 3 |
| Türkiye | Lost 0-1 to France | 0 |
| Belgium | Opening-round result pending or recorded separately | — |
| Italy | Opening-round result pending or recorded separately | — |
Under the 2026–27 Nations League format, group winners and runners-up in League A advance to the quarter-finals.
The two highest-ranked third-place teams remain in League A, while other teams may enter promotion-relegation play-offs or face relegation depending on their final group position.
That makes the opening points important for both France and Türkiye, particularly during a schedule that requires teams to play four matches in a short international window.
Next fixtures for France and Türkiye
France travels to Brussels to face Belgium on Monday, September 28, 2026.
Türkiye is scheduled to host Italy on the same matchday.
France will then face Italy at home on October 2 before meeting Belgium again in Saint-Denis on October 5.
Türkiye’s next fixtures include away matches against Belgium and Italy before the group resumes in November.
The two teams are scheduled to meet again on November 15, when France hosts Türkiye in Bordeaux.
For France, the immediate objective is to build on the clean-sheet victory while adapting to Zidane’s system.
For Türkiye, the challenge is to recover quickly from a narrow defeat and improve its finishing before the visit of Italy.
France Turkey result at a glance
- Competition: UEFA Nations League 2026–27, League A Group A1
- Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
- Venue: Kocaeli Stadyumu, Kocaeli
- Final score: Türkiye 0-1 France
- Goal: Kylian Mbappé, 54th minute
- Assist: Michael Olise
- France coach: Zinédine Zidane
- Next France fixture: Belgium on September 28
- Next Türkiye fixture: Italy on September 28
France’s narrow win gives Zidane an early result to build around, while Türkiye will need points from its next fixtures to avoid falling behind in Group A1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the France Turkey score?
France defeated Türkiye 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League on September 25, 2026.
Who scored for France against Türkiye?
Kylian Mbappé scored France’s goal in the 54th minute, assisted by Michael Olise.
Where was Türkiye vs France played?
The match was played at Kocaeli Stadyumu in Kocaeli, Türkiye.
How many points does France have in Group A1?
France has three points after opening the league phase with a 1-0 win.
When will France and Türkiye play again?
France is scheduled to host Türkiye in Bordeaux on November 15, 2026.
Fact-Checked: The final score, fixture date and upcoming schedule were checked against official French Football Federation and UEFA information. ([fff.fr](https://www.fff.fr/selection/2-equipe-de-france/resultats-et-calendrier.html))
Disclaimer: Match statistics and group standings may be updated as UEFA completes and confirms all opening-round fixtures.