Overview
- On Friday, October 2, 2026, France and Italy meet at the Stade de France in the third round of Nations League Group A1 with kick-off set for 20:45 local time.
- Roberto Mancini left nine players at Coverciano and sent a shortened travelling party to Paris, citing rotation and preparation for the return game in Bologna.
- Giacomo Raspadori withdrew from the Italy camp with a low-grade biceps femoris strain and is unavailable, while Gianluigi Donnarumma is the confirmed starting goalkeeper for Italy.
- France will be without Kylian Mbappé because of injury, and Transfermarkt valuations show a large market-value gap favoring France that commentators say increases expectations on the hosts.
- Off-field tensions have added noise to the window after Diana Bianchedi’s resignation and ministerial remarks drew public responses from FIGC figures, a distraction the team and federation must manage during the fixture.