Türkiye to face France in UEFA Nations League

Türkiye’s A national football team will host France, a side that finished among the top four at the last World Cup, in the opening match of the UEFA Nations League group stage at Kocaeli Stadium. The highly anticipated match will kick off at 10:45 p.m. Baku time and will be broadcast live by ATV.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Felix Zwayer of the German Football Association will serve as the referee. His compatriots Robert Kempter and Nikolai Kimmeyer will be the assistant referees, while Florian Badstubner will act as the fourth official.

In the group’s other simultaneous match, Italy and Belgium will meet in Rome. Türkiye will play its second group match against Italy in Bursa on Sept. 28.

Türkiye are dealing with an injury concern. Midfielder Orkun Kokcu has been receiving treatment for pain in his toe and was unable to take part in the team’s latest training sessions. He is expected to miss the match against France.

France, which finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup after losing to Spain in the semifinals and England in the third-place playoff, has undergone major changes. The French Football Federation parted ways with Didier Deschamps and appointed Zinedine Zidane as head coach. Under the leadership of the legendary coach, France will play its first official match against Türkiye.

Official squad lists

Türkiye (Head coach: Vincenzo Montella)

• Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir (“Celta Vigo”), Muhammed Sengozer (“RAMS Basaksehir”), Okan Kocuk, Ugurcan Cakir (“Galatasaray”).
• Defenders: Abdulkerim Bardakci, Eren Elmali (“Galatasaray”), Adil Demirbag (“TÜMOSAN Konyaspor”), Emirhan Topcu (“Besiktas”), Ferdi Kadioglu (“Brighton”), Merih Demiral (“Al-Ahli”), Ozan Kabak (“Hoffenheim”), Samet Akaydin, Mustafa Eskhellac (“Trabzonspor”), Zeki Celik (“Juventus”).
• Midfielders: Ismail Yuksek, Bartug Elmaz (“Fenerbahce”), Demir Ege Tiknaz (“Braga”), Melih Kabasakal (“Trabzonspor”), Orkun Kokcu, Salih Ozcan (“Besiktas”).
• Forwards: Aral Simsir (“Trabzonspor”), Arda Guler (“Real Madrid”), Baris Alper Yilmaz, Deniz Gul, Yunus Akgun (“Galatasaray”), Can Uzun (“Eintracht Frankfurt”), Ilhan Fakili (“Besiktas”), Irfan Can Kahveci, Kerem Akturkoglu, Oguz Aydin (“Fenerbahce”).

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (“Milan”), Guillaume Restes (“Toulouse”), Robin Risser (“Lens”).

• Defenders: Andy Diouf (“Inter”), Jeremy Jacquet (“Liverpool”), Pierre Kalulu (“Juventus”), Ibrahima Konate (“Real Madrid”), Jules Kounde (“Barcelona”), Maxence Lacroix (“Chelsea”), Adrien Truffert (“Bournemouth”), Dayot Upamecano (“Bayern Munich”).

  Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (“Real Madrid”), Rayan Cherki (“Manchester City”), Lucas Da Cunha (“Como”), Manu Kone (“Roma”), Adrien Rabiot (“Milan”), Warren Zaire-Emery (“Paris Saint-Germain”).

  Forwards: Bradley Barcola (“Liverpool”), Ousmane Dembele (“Paris Saint-Germain”), Desire Doue (“Paris Saint-Germain”), Esteban Lepaul (“Rennes”), Kylian Mbappe (“Real Madrid”), Michael Olise (“Bayern Munich”).