France vs Italy is one of the standout fixtures in UEFA Nations League 2026/27 League A Group A1, with the two European heavyweights meeting on Friday, 2 October 2026 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Kick-off is scheduled for (18:45 UTC).
France enter Matchday 3 at the top of Group A1 after winning both of their opening matches, while Italy sit third with three points. With the top two teams progressing to the quarter-finals, both sides have plenty to play for.
France vs Italy: Group A1 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 6 |
| 2 | Belgium | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Italy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 3 |
| 4 | Turkey | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
France have made an impressive start to their Nations League campaign, recording two wins and two clean sheets. Italy, meanwhile, have collected three points from their opening two matches.
France Form and Team News
France have won both of their opening Nations League matches, beating Turkey 1-0 away before recording another 1-0 victory against Belgium.
The French side have been particularly impressive defensively, conceding no goals in their first two games. Their only concern has been a relatively low scoring rate, with just two goals scored.
Zinédine Zidane, who took charge in the summer of 2026, will be looking to maintain that defensive discipline in his first home Nations League match as France coach.
France Injury News
France will be without Kylian Mbappé, who suffered a left knee hyperextension/tendon problem during the victory over Turkey. The forward has returned to Real Madrid and will miss the remainder of the current international window.
Despite Mbappé’s absence, France still have considerable attacking depth. Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Désiré Doué provide several creative options, while goalkeeper Mike Maignan remains an important part of the team’s defensive structure.
Italy Form and Team News
Italy began their campaign with a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, but Roberto Mancini’s side responded strongly by beating Turkey 4-1 away from home.
That result highlighted Italy’s attacking potential and put them back into contention for a top-two finish in Group A1.
Italy have looked more open than France during the opening two matches, scoring four goals but also conceding three.
Italy Injury News
Italy will be without Giacomo Raspadori, who is dealing with a hamstring problem.
Mancini has also made changes to his squad ahead of the trip to France, with several players remaining at Coverciano while others, including Nicolò Barella and Gianluca Mancini, have returned to the squad.
Italy have several attacking options available, including Moise Kean and the Esposito brothers, giving Mancini alternatives in the final third.
France vs Italy Head-to-Head
France and Italy have a long-standing rivalry and have produced several memorable international matches.
Their most recent Nations League meetings came during the 2024/25 campaign. Italy won 3-1 in France in September 2024, before France responded with a 3-1 victory in Italy in November 2024.
Those recent meetings produced eight goals across two matches, highlighting the attacking quality both nations can bring to this fixture.
France vs Italy Key Factors
France’s Defensive Strength
France have conceded zero goals in their opening two Nations League matches. Their defensive organisation could be particularly important against an Italy side that scored four goals against Turkey.
Mbappé’s Absence
Mbappé’s injury removes one of France’s biggest attacking threats. However, France have several other high-quality attacking players who can take responsibility in his absence.
Italy’s Improved Attack
Italy’s 4-1 win over Turkey demonstrated their ability to create chances and score goals. They will need a similar attacking performance against a France defence that has been difficult to break down.
Home Advantage
France will have the support of the home crowd at the Stade de France. The fixture is also significant for Zidane as his first home match in charge of the national team.
France vs Italy Betting Tips
The bookmakers have France as the favourites to win at home, with typical pre-match prices placing the hosts around 1.40–1.50, while the draw is generally around 5.00–5.25 and an Italy victory around 6.00–7.00.
The main betting markets to consider include:
- France to win
- France win & Both Teams to Score
- Under 3.5 Goals
- France 2-0 or 2-1 correct score
France’s defensive record makes a high-scoring match less certain, although Italy’s recent 4-1 victory suggests they have enough attacking quality to threaten the French defence.
France vs Italy Prediction
France go into the match with the stronger defensive record and home advantage, while Italy arrive with greater attacking momentum following their convincing win over Turkey.
Mbappé’s absence could reduce France’s attacking threat, but the hosts have enough quality across the squad to remain competitive. Italy should provide a tougher test than Turkey, particularly after scoring four goals in their previous match.
France vs Italy prediction: France 2-1 Italy
A 2-0 France victory is another possible outcome if the hosts maintain the defensive discipline they showed in their first two Nations League matches.