France vs Italy ends 1-1: Olise and Bastoni score in Nations League draw

France and Italy drew 1-1 in their UEFA Nations League match at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday, October 2, 2026. Michael Olise gave the France national football team the lead in the 55th minute, but Alessandro Bastoni equalized for Italy in the 68th. The result ended France’s winning start to Group A1 without giving Italy a victory over its hosts.

How France vs Italy unfolded

The teams went into halftime level at 0-0. France broke through ten minutes after the restart when Olise scored, with Rayan Cherki credited with the assist. Italy’s response came 13 minutes later through Bastoni, a defender whose goal brought the visitors level and ensured that France could not turn its second-half lead into a third consecutive Nations League win.

Dayot Upamecano was sent off late in the match after receiving a second yellow card, leaving France to finish with ten players. Italy could not find another goal in the closing minutes, and the score remained 1-1 at full time. It was the first goal France had conceded in this Nations League campaign, following 1-0 wins against Türkiye and Belgium.

France started Mike Maignan in goal, with Pierre Kalulu, Jérémy Jacquet, Upamecano and Adrien Truffert in defense. Cherki, Lucas Da Cunha and Adrien Rabiot started in midfield, while Olise joined Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué in attack. Kylian Mbappé was absent after suffering a knee injury during France’s win over Türkiye on September 25.

Italy named Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal and started Bastoni alongside Michael Kayode, Giorgio Scalvini and Riccardo Calafiori at the back. Its starting attack included Moise Kean and brothers Francesco Pio and Sebastiano Esposito. Nicolò Barella was among Italy’s second-half substitutes, entering before Bastoni scored the equalizer.

What the draw means for Group A1

France took seven points from its first three group matches: two wins followed by this draw. Italy moved to four points after opening with a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium and then beating Türkiye 4-1 away. The draw kept France ahead of Italy in their head-to-head contest for now, but both teams still have three group fixtures to play.

The distinction matters because the top two teams in each League A group advance to the Nations League quarter-finals. Friday’s match did not settle either team’s place. France avoided defeat at home, while Italy collected a point on a trip to the side that began the day with a perfect record.

Both sides play again on Monday, October 5. France hosts Belgium at the Stade de France, and Italy hosts Türkiye. France and Italy then meet once more in the group stage on Thursday, November 12, in Milan. That return fixture will give each team another chance to gain ground directly against the other.

How this result compares with their last meetings

The two countries split their Nations League meetings in 2024, each winning 3-1 away from home. Italy beat France in Paris in September of that year, and France returned the favor in Milan in November. Friday’s 1-1 draw was a different outcome: neither side could preserve a lead long enough to take all three points.

For readers looking for the result rather than the next fixture, the October 2 match was France 1, Italy 1. Olise scored for France in the 55th minute; Bastoni scored for Italy in the 68th. Their next scheduled meeting is the November 12 Nations League match in Italy, not a replay of Friday’s draw.