Belgium and France face off in a highly anticipated UEFA Nations League Group A1 fixture on Monday, September 28, 2026. The match will take place at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, with kickoff scheduled for 19:45 local time. Both teams enter the contest with momentum after winning their opening group matches.
Belgium leads League A Group 1 with three points and a plus-two goal difference, following a 2-0 victory over Italy in Rome. France sits in second place with three points after a 1-0 win against Türkiye. Italy and Türkiye round out the group, both seeking their first points of the campaign.
A Tactical Battle Under New Leadership
This fixture highlights a significant tactical encounter as both nations operate under new head coaches. Former Dutch international Mark van Bommel leads Belgium, while Zinedine Zidane has returned to the dugout to manage France. Both managers are prioritizing squad rotation and integration during this international window.
“It is special to coach against someone like that. He was an exceptional footballer, and I played against him once. He is a good coach too; that’s clear,” said Belgium manager Mark van Bommel regarding his counterpart, Zinedine Zidane.
Team News and Key Absences
France will be without captain Kylian Mbappé, who is sidelined for two weeks following a knee injury sustained against Türkiye. Additionally, midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery is out with a thigh injury, and Matteo Guendouzi is suspended. Despite these absences, France maintains a dangerous attack featuring Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and Desire Doué.
Belgium is led by Kevin De Bruyne, who earned man-of-the-match honors in the victory over Italy. The home side faces minor fitness concerns, with winger Leandro Trossard managing a heel injury and goalkeeper Mike Penders dealing with a muscle issue.
Predicted Lineups
Belgium (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens
- Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper
- Midfielders: Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Kevin De Bruyne
- Forwards: Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Charles De Ketelaere
France (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
- Defenders: Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Andy Diouf
- Midfielders: Rayan Cherki, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot
- Forwards: Michael Olise, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembélé
How to Follow the Match
International viewers can watch the match through regional broadcasters. In France, the game will air on la chaine L’Equipe and TF1+. UK viewers can watch via Prime Video UK, while fans in the United States can follow the action on FOX Sports, FuboTV, or ViX. Viewers in regions with geographical restrictions may use a VPN to connect to a server in a supported broadcast region.
