Nations League: Zidane wins in his first match with France in Turkey

Zinédine Zidane secured his first victory as head coach of the French national team on Friday, September 25, 2026, with a 1-0 win against Turkey in the opening match of the Nations League.

Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal of the match in the second half. France maintained their lead until the final whistle, despite the injury exit of their captain.

Turkey finished the match with ten players after their goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir was sent off late in the game for a handball outside his area.

Zidane becomes the first French manager since Aimé Jacquet in 1994 to win his opening match in charge of Les Bleus. The former Real Madrid coach took over from Didier Deschamps after a fourteen-year tenure.