| France vs Belgium | |
| MATCH | Nations League |
| DATE | 29 - 09 - 2026 |
| TIME | 12.15 AM IST |
| STADIUM | Stadium |
Belgium vs France: Nations League Match Preview and Team News
Belgium and France are set for an exciting UEFA Nations League encounter as two of European football’s biggest teams look to continue their winning starts to the international break.
Both nations began their latest campaigns with victories under new management. Belgium recorded an impressive 2-0 win against Italy, while France secured a narrow 1-0 away victory over Turkey. Monday’s meeting should therefore provide a much tougher examination for both sides.
Belgium Looking to Build Momentum Under Van Bommel
Belgium entered this international window following their quarter-final exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With attention gradually turning towards the road to Euro 2028, the Red Devils have started a new chapter under head coach Mark van Bommel.
Van Bommel could hardly have asked for a better beginning, with Belgium defeating Italy 2-0 in his first match in charge.
Mika Godts gave Belgium the lead during the first half before Dodi Lukebakio added another after the interval to secure all three points. The result was particularly encouraging defensively, as Belgium registered their first clean sheet in five matches.
Keeping France quiet will be a considerably greater challenge, even with Les Bleus missing one of their biggest attacking stars.
Belgium can nevertheless take confidence from their recent performances when playing at home. The Red Devils enter this contest unbeaten in nine consecutive matches as the nominal home side, winning six of those fixtures.
That record will be tested by a French team that has dominated recent meetings between the countries. Belgium have lost each of their last five encounters with France, with their previous victory in this fixture dating back to June 2015.
Van Bommel will now be hoping to end that sequence as he prepares for his first home match since taking charge of the national team.
France Begin Zidane Era With Victory
France are also adjusting to life under a new manager following the end of Didier Deschamps' highly successful spell in charge.
Zinedine Zidane has taken over Les Bleus and began his tenure with a victory, although France had to work hard to overcome Turkey.
Kylian Mbappe scored the only goal of the match as France claimed a 1-0 away win. Les Bleus enjoyed 64% of possession but struggled to consistently create clear opportunities, finishing the contest with 1.17 expected goals compared with Turkey's 1.21.
The biggest concern from the victory was the injury suffered by Mbappe.
The Real Madrid forward picked up a knee problem after scoring and is expected to spend several weeks on the sidelines. As a result, France will travel to Belgium without their most dangerous goalscoring threat.
Zidane still has considerable attacking talent available, meaning France should remain capable of causing Belgium problems.
Their recent away performances provide another reason for confidence. France have won eight and drawn one of their previous nine matches away from home, demonstrating their ability to produce results outside France.
Belgium Team News
Belgium are expected to remain without Leandro Trossard as the versatile attacker continues his recovery from a heel problem.
Mika Godts strengthened his case for another start after scoring against Italy and could feature on the left side of Belgium's attacking setup.
Kevin De Bruyne is expected to remain one of the team's main creative influences, while Diego Moreira could also operate behind Charles De Ketelaere, who is likely to lead the attack.
Belgium's defence could feature Nathan Ngoy alongside Brandon Mechele in central areas. Timothy Castagne and Maxim De Cuyper are among the leading candidates to occupy the full-back positions.
Van Bommel will be hoping the same defensive organisation that produced a clean sheet against Italy can withstand a technically gifted French attack.
France Team News
France's biggest absentee is Mbappe, who will miss the match after suffering his knee injury against Turkey.
Without their captain and leading forward, Zidane will need to reorganise his attacking line.
Ousmane Dembele could be deployed through the middle, while Michael Olise and Desire Doue are options to provide creativity and pace from the wider positions.
France also have plenty of quality in midfield. Manu Kone could partner Adrien Rabiot in a deeper role, allowing Rayan Cherki greater freedom further forward.
Cherki's creativity could prove particularly important against a Belgium side that looked much more organised defensively in its opening Nations League fixture.
Belgium vs France: What to Expect
The match represents an intriguing early test for both new managers.
Belgium will attempt to build on an encouraging victory over Italy and use their strong home record to their advantage. De Bruyne's creativity and the confidence gained from their opening win could make the Red Devils dangerous, particularly in transition.
France, meanwhile, must demonstrate that they can remain effective without Mbappe. Dembele, Olise, Doue and Cherki provide Zidane with several attacking combinations despite the Real Madrid forward's absence.
Recent history strongly favours France in this fixture, but Belgium's home form suggests the visitors should expect a competitive contest.
With both teams beginning their Nations League campaigns with victories, this meeting provides an opportunity to establish early momentum and offers another important glimpse into the new eras under Van Bommel and Zidane.