There will be the vibe of a big-night atmosphere in Saint-Denis. With Zinédine Zidane now on the France bench, this third match for the new manager at the Stade de France gains added significance. The kick-off for France-Italy will be on Friday, October 2 at 8:45 p.m., for the third matchday of Group A1 in the 2026-2027 Nations League. The French Football Federation confirms that the game will indeed be played at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis.
For French viewers, there’s no need to juggle a dozen subscriptions and three remotes: France-Italy will be shown live on TF1, with streaming on TF1+. The TF1 group holds the rights to all six of France’s matches in this phase of the Nations League.
The evening will be commentated by Grégoire Margotton and Bixente Lizarazu, with Saber Desfarges reporting from the heart of the France squad. TF1 has also lined up a post-match segment devoted to reactions and analysis of the game. This France-Italy clash will carry a special significance: it will be Zinédine Zidane’s first home match as head coach of Les Bleus.
Across the Alps, there’s no risk of missing the big moment either. Rai 1 announces a live broadcast of France–Italy, with coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. The match will also be available through the RaiPlay ecosystem.
More broadly, UEFA lists RaiPlay, Mediaset and Sky Italia as Italy's partner broadcasters for the 2026-2027 Nations League. Because rights can vary by match, Rai 1 provides the most precise confirmation for this France-Italy encounter.
Zidane on a French bench is, of course, a story that quickly spills beyond the ring road. UEFA has published an official list of its broadcast partners for watching the Nations League worldwide. Depending on the territory, offerings may include traditional television, streaming, or both.
Some handy references: in the United Kingdom, Nations League matches that do not involve British teams are offered via Prime Video UK; France-Italy appears on the platform’s UK schedule. In the United States, the announced partners are FOX Sports, FuboTV and ViX. In Canada, the competition is streamed by DAZN Canada. In Australia and New Zealand, it is provided by beIN SPORTS.
In Latin America, Disney+ holds the rights in several countries, notably Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. In the Brazil, UEFA lists Disney+ and SporTV. In the Mexico, the broadcast goes through Sky Mexico.
For a portion of the African continent, the situation varies by country: New World TV, DStv Stream, or beIN Connect are among UEFA’s listed partners. Depending on the territory, this applies in Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Senegal, or in several North African and Middle Eastern countries.
Finally, UEFA is set to offer free streaming on UEFA.tv in a handful of specific regions, including Belarus, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The availability remains geographically limited and does not replace national broadcasters in countries where rights are exclusive.
Beyond the broadcasting question, the match comes with a real extra layer of history. France and Italy sit in Group A1 with Belgium and Turkey, a group where every showdown between Europe’s heavyweights can tilt the balance in the race to reach the next round of the competition.
And it’s hard to imagine a more symbolic image for Zidane’s first steps in front of the French crowd. Italy runs through the entire arc of “Zizou,” from his greatest nights in blue to a certain 2006 World Cup final that we might do well to avoid bringing up over an aperitif.
Friday night, though, Zidane will no longer be in the thick of the midfield but a few meters away, the mantle of coach on his shoulders. And to follow this new chapter from Paris, Rome, London, Montreal, New York or Tokyo, you’ll simply have to find the right screen.
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Dates and Opening Time
On October 2, 2026
Location
Stade de France
stade de france
93200 Saint Denis
Route planner
Official website
www.stadefrance.com
