Italy host France on Thursday 12 November 2026 at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, on matchday 5 of the Nations League. Kick-off is at 20:45 CET, on TF1 in France. Top of the group with a three-point lead, Zinedine Zidane's side need only one point to reach the quarter-finals. Kylian Mbappe returns.
What do France need in Milan?
After four matchdays, group A1 stands as follows:
- France: 10 points
- Italy: 7 points
- Belgium: 6 points
- Turkey: 0 points
The top two go through to the quarter-finals, the bottom side drops to League B. A draw takes France to 11 points: Italy and Belgium meet in Brussels on 15 November, so they cannot both overtake them. A win takes France to 13 points, out of reach: first place is secured.
France are unbeaten under Zidane: wins in Turkey (1-0) and Belgium (1-0), a draw against Italy (1-1, match report), then a convincing win over Belgium (4-1, match report).
Who is in Zidane's squad for Italy - France?
Announced on 6 November, it marks the return of Mbappe, injured in his left knee in Izmit on 25 September (Turkey - France) and absent for the next three matches. Aurelien Tchouameni, Marcus Thuram, Malo Gusto and Robin Risser are also back. The only newcomer is Pablo Pagis, the Paris FC striker.
- Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Guillaume Restes, Robin Risser
- Defenders: Andy Diouf, Malo Gusto, Jeremy Jacquet, Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konate, Adrien Truffert, Dayot Upamecano, Leny Yoro
- Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Rayan Cherki, Lucas Da Cunha, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery
- Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Pablo Pagis, Marcus Thuram
Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix and Manu Kone are injured, and Ousmane Dembele is also left out. Michael Olise, with four goals in the first international window, is the top scorer of the Zidane era.
How good are Mancini's Italy?
Beaten 2-0 by Belgium in Rome in their opener, Roberto Mancini's Italy have not lost since: 4-1 in Turkey, 1-1 in Saint-Denis, 3-1 against Turkey in Bologna. A win would draw them level with France before the final matchday, in Brussels.
The Azzurri return to San Siro a year after their 4-1 defeat to Norway in World Cup qualifying. They have lost their last three matches there, including a 1-3 defeat to France in the Nations League in November 2024. By 5 November, 57,000 tickets had been sold, 6,000 of them to France supporters.
What is France's Nations League schedule?
- Friday 25 September: Turkey - France, 0-1
- Monday 28 September: Belgium - France, 0-1
- Friday 2 October: France - Italy, 1-1
- Monday 5 October: France - Belgium, 4-1
- Thursday 12 November, 20:45 CET: Italy - France, in Milan
- Sunday 15 November, 20:45 CET: France - Turkey, in Bordeaux
Where to watch Italy - France?
On TF1 and streaming on TF1+ in France, on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 20:45 CET.
Sources
Maxifoot — EdF : la liste avec Gusto et Pagis !
TuttoMercatoWeb — UEFA Nations League: si va verso il tutto esaurito al Meazza per Italia-Francia