Belgium and France meet for a high-stakes Matchday 2 encounter in League A Group 1 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League on Monday, September 28, 2026. The match takes place at the King Baudouin Stadium (Stade Roi Baudouin) in Brussels, Belgium, with kickoff scheduled for 8:45 p.m. local time. For viewers in the United States, the game begins at 2:45 p.m. ET (11:45 a.m. PT).
Group Standings and Recent Form
Both nations enter the contest occupying the top two positions in League A Group 1, having each secured three points in their opening matches. Belgium earned their initial victory by defeating Italy 2-0 on September 25, leaving the “Red Devils” with a +2 goal difference. France also began their campaign with a win, securing a 1-0 road victory over Türkiye. Because both teams are currently tied at the top of the group, this head-to-head meeting is considered a critical early battle for position in the tournament.
Team News and Coaching Matchup
A major storyline for the French squad is the absence of captain Kylian Mbappé. Although the Real Madrid star scored the winning goal against Türkiye, he was forced to leave the pitch due to an injury and will not be available for the match in Brussels. This absence serves as a significant test for French manager Zinedine Zidane, who is overseeing his second match in charge of the national team.
The match also features a personal connection between the managers. Belgium’s head coach, Van Bommel, previously faced Zidane during his playing career at Barcelona in El Clásico matches against Real Madrid. Van Bommel has praised Zidane’s legacy as both a player and a coach, noting that the existence of a skill move named after Zidane reflects his impact on the sport.
Broadcast and Viewing Information
The match is available through various international broadcasters and streaming platforms:
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- United States: The game is available on FOX Sports 2, with streaming options via Fubo, ViX, and FOX One.
- Middle East and North Africa: beIN Sports 2 holds the exclusive rights for the region, with commentary provided by Hafid Derradji. Subscribers can also stream the match via TOD and beIN Connect.
- Other International Channels: Broadcasts include TF1 in France and Switzerland, VTM in Belgium, and various outlets such as Sport TV1 in Portugal and Ziggo Sport 2.
Match Officials and Venue
Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovič has been appointed to officiate the encounter. He is assisted by fellow Slovenians Jure Praprotnik and Matija Gunič, with Martin Matoša serving as the fourth official. The VAR team is led by Matija Guj, assisted by Alen Borošak.
The contest is hosted at the King Baudouin Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 50,093 spectators. The venue features a grass playing surface, and the weather forecast for kickoff predicts cloudy conditions with temperatures around 64°F.
Historical Head-to-Head
Belgium and France share one of the longest rivalries in international soccer. Historically, Belgium holds a slight lead with 30 wins compared to France’s 29, with 19 matches ending in a draw. Belgium has scored 163 goals in these meetings, while France has scored 136.
Despite the overall history, France has dominated recent encounters, winning the last five meetings since 2018. This includes a 1-0 victory in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, a 3-2 win in the 2021 Nations League semi-finals, and the most recent meeting on October 14, 2024, which France won 2-1.
