Belgium vs France: No Mbappe in Brussels - Advantage De Bruyne?
Monday night, King Baudouin Stadium: Belgium vs France, 28 September, 20:45 CET - two teams who both won on Matchday 1, both led by brand-new coaches, and one enormous absence. Kylian Mbappe scored the winner in Zinedine Zidane's first game in charge on Friday, injured his left knee doing it, and has flown back to Madrid. Belgium, 2-0 winners in Rome under Mark van Bommel, smell an early Group A1 statement. Our Belgium shelf and France shelf are both ready for it.
Belgium's New Era Started With a Statement
Winning in Rome is hard. Winning in Rome in your first competitive match as Belgium coach is a declaration. Mika Godts opened it on 21 minutes, latching on to a Kevin De Bruyne pass and driving past Gianluigi Donnarumma; when Italy pushed after the break, substitute Dodi Lukebakio sealed it with a solo strike from 20 metres. Only Donnarumma's double save - from Charles De Ketelaere and Nicolas Raskin - kept it respectable. It was Belgium's first Nations League win over Italy, and it puts van Bommel's team top of the group on goal difference.
Zidane Won. Then He Lost Mbappe.
France's Friday in Izmit was the full Zidane experience in miniature: a 1-0 win, a moment of class, and a shadow over it. Michael Olise - who had already curled one off the woodwork of a brilliant Ugurcan Cakir save - set up Mbappe for his 67th international goal on 54 minutes. The captain was limping before the celebration ended, went off five minutes later, and the French federation has since confirmed a knee tendon injury: he is out of the rest of this international window and back at Real Madrid for treatment. Zidane, the first France coach to win his debut since Aime Jacquet in 1994, called no replacement. "We're not going to take any risks."
So Who Carries France's Attack Now?
The short answer: the new wave. Olise was France's best player in Izmit even before the assist; Rayan Cherki started in Zidane's first XI; Bradley Barcola was the man Cakir fouled for his late red card. Without Mbappe - and with home games against Italy (2 October) and Belgium again (5 October) to come - Zidane's front line gets younger by necessity. For Belgium, the equation is simpler: De Bruyne conducts, Doku and Godts run, and a second straight win would put them three points clear of the world runners-up... while France have home advantage twice more in this group to answer.
Group A1 After One Round
Belgium lead on goal difference (+2 to France's +1), with Turkiye and Italy on zero. Monday night is already a six-pointer: win, and either side opens a three-point gap with a head-to-head edge; draw, and the group stays compressed until the return in Paris on 5 October. Full tables live on our Nations League standings page, updated after every matchday.
Our Read: This Is De Bruyne's Fixture Now
With no Mbappe on the teamsheet, the best player on the pitch on Monday wears red. The De Bruyne home print at $38.90 is our pick of this fixture - fresh from an assist in Rome, conducting the group leaders at home. Doku's home print is the same price for those who prefer chaos on the wing. For France, the Camavinga, Barcola and Ekitike home jerseys at $38.90 are the shirts of the generation Zidane is about to trust. Six picks below, all in stock.
Shop Belgium vs France - Six Picks In Stock
When is Belgium vs France in the Nations League?
Monday 28 September 2026 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, kick-off 20:45 CET. The return fixture is at the Stade de France on 5 October.
Is Mbappe playing against Belgium?
No. Mbappe injured his left knee while scoring the winner in France's 1-0 Matchday 1 victory in Turkiye. France confirmed a knee tendon injury; he has left the squad, returned to Real Madrid for treatment and will miss the rest of this international window. Zidane called up no replacement.
Who won Belgium vs Italy in the Nations League opener?
Belgium won 2-0 in Rome on 25 September - Mika Godts from a Kevin De Bruyne pass on 21 minutes, and a Dodi Lukebakio solo strike on 68 minutes. It was Mark van Bommel's first match as Belgium coach and Belgium's first Nations League win over Italy.
Who is France's new coach?
Zinedine Zidane, who replaced Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup. He beat Turkiye 1-0 in his debut - the first France coach to win his opening game since Aime Jacquet in 1994.
Fixtures, team news and results cross-checked against UEFA, BBC Sport, AP and Le Monde — Pro Sports Kit
