Turkish goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir made a fingertip save to deflect Michael Olise’s shot over the crossbar as Turkey and France’s first Nations League goal came at half-time at the Turka Arac Muayene Kocaeli Stadyumu on Friday.
Bayern Munich winger Olise forced Galatasaray’s Cakir into an acrobatic intervention with the interval drawing to a close at the end of a quiet opening period for Bleus captain Kylian Mbappe, who deployed on the left for the France legend. Zinedine Zidane’s first game in charge.
the blue ones The all-time record 66-goal scorer fired a shot wide of Olise’s pass as the visitors ended the half with two-thirds of possession, having started 20 of the 26 attacks between the teams.
The match starts in 5 minutes 🔥
🇹🇷🇫🇷 #TOURDESDE pic.twitter.com/tN3LoyY7tT— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) September 25, 2026
Selection of Turkey against France
Turkey made four changes from their last 3-2 World Cup win over USA on June 26, with Merih Demiral in defence, Can Uzun and Ismail Yuksek in midfield and Ferdi Kadioglu on the left.
Turkey: Ugurcan Cakir, Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Salih Ozcan, Arda Guler, Can Uzun, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ismail Yuksek, Oguz Aydin, Ferdi Kadioglu, Baris Alper Yilmaz
Substitutes: Altay Bayındır, Okan Kocuk, Emirhan Topcu, Melih Kabasakal, Kerem Akturkoglu, Deniz Gul, Eren Elmali, Ozan Kabak, Irfan Can Kahveci, Yunus Akgun, Aral Simsir
France selection against Turkey in the League of Nations
France made four changes after their 6-4 loss to England in the World Cup third-place match, bringing in Adrien Truffert and Jules Kounde in defence, Manu Kone in midfield and Ousmane Dembele in attack.
France: Mike Maignan, Adrien Truffert, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, Ousmane Dembele, Manu Kone, Rayan Cherki, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Adrien Rabiot, Maxence Lacroix
Substitutes: Guillaume Restes, Jean Butez, Pierre Kalulu, Eduardo Camavinga, Bradley Barcola, Andy Diouf, Leny Yoro, Maghnes Akliouche, Esteban Lepaul, Desire Doue, Lucas Da Cunha, Jeremy Jacquet
Where to watch Turkey vs France: TV channel, live streaming online
Kick-off on Friday was at 19:45 BST (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT), with live UK coverage on Amazon Prime PPVwhich charges £2.49 for the game.
For worldwide coverage, visit UEFA List of international broadcasters of the League of Nations.
Statistics of Turkey and France from the League of Nations
- This was Turkey’s 655th match of all time with a record of 260 wins and 243 losses, including a 4-1 win over Georgia in World Cup qualifying last year in their only previous match at Kocaeli Stadyumu.
- They have played in the city of Kocaeli before, defeating Chile 1-0 in a friendly in 2008 thanks to Halil Altıntop’s second-half goal.
- Turkey’s only win against France came in their only competitive home game of the game, winning 2-0 in a EURO qualifier in June 2019 thanks to goals from Cengiz Under and Kaan Ayhan.
- With two goals each, defender Ayhan and French forwards Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord are the joint top scorers in the game’s history.
- Including friendlies, Vincenzo Montella’s side have lost one of their last nine games in Turkey (W7 D1), with the exception of a 6-0 loss to reigning world champions Spain in World Cup qualifying last September.
- France have won four of the six previous meetings between these teams, with Turkey winning once and the teams sharing their only draw in their last meeting in 2019, scoring a goal each in the EURO qualifier at the Stade de France.
- This was France’s 944th cap since 1904, amassing 480 wins, 195 draws and 268 defeats while scoring 1,711 goals and conceding 1,272.
- Mbappé is France’s ninth player with the most trophies, the same as Patrick Vieira and one behind Zidane’s total.
- Each of France’s last nine goals have come after the 47th minute, with four scored by Mbappe and two by Ousmane Dembele, who scored each of his own after the 65th minute.
- They have scored at least two goals in five of their last six Nations League games away from France, failing to do so in a 2-0 defeat by Croatia in Split in March 2025, although they won the second leg 2-0 to progress to the semi-finals on penalties.