France Faces Belgium Without Injured Kylian Mbappe in High-Stakes UEFA Nations League Clash

France prepares to face Belgium in a crucial UEFA Nations League 2026-27 Group A1 encounter at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday, September 28, at 7:45pm (18:45 GMT). Al Jazeera Sport will provide live build-up and updates starting from 15:45 GMT.

Captain Kylian Mbappe secured a winning start for France against Turkiye with an early second-half strike, but a knee injury will sideline the country’s leading scorer for two weeks. In his absence, talents like Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue will shoulder the goal-scoring responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Belgium enters the match following a strong 2-0 victory against Italy in Rome, bolstered by the experienced Kevin De Bruyne. The match also marks a new era for both squads under new leadership, with Mark van Bommel taking charge of Belgium and Zinedine Zidane returning to coach France.

The UEFA Nations League, established in 2018, continues to offer competitive fixtures among Europe's top teams. In their last encounter during October 2024, France defeated Belgium 2-1 thanks to a double from Randal Kolo Muani.

Key players to watch include Kevin De Bruyne and Diego Moreira for Belgium, alongside Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki for France. Both coaches have emphasized squad rotation and tactical readiness as they prepare for this historic rivalry.

Probable Belgium XI: Senne Lammens; Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Nicolas Raskin; Dodi Lukebakio, Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Diego Moreira; Charles De Ketelaere

Probable France XI: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Andy Diouf; Rayan Cherki, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele