France vs Italy: Kickoff Time, How to Watch and Why Mbappé Is Out

France vs Italy kicks off on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 2:45 p.m. ET at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. U.S. viewers can watch the UEFA Nations League match on FS1, with streaming available through services that carry the channel. France captain Kylian Mbappé will not play after sustaining a knee injury during the current international window.

What time does France vs Italy start?

The scheduled kickoff is 8:45 p.m. in France and Italy. That is 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom, 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:45 p.m. Central Time and 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States. In India, the match begins at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday, October 3. The date change matters for viewers searching for a Friday fixture from India.

The match is a League A Group A1 fixture, not a World Cup match or a friendly. France is the home team, and the venue is in Saint-Denis, just outside central Paris. Check the competition and date when selecting a stream: older France–Italy matches can also appear in search results.

Where can you watch France vs Italy?

In the United States, FS1 has the television broadcast. Viewers without a cable subscription can check live-TV streaming packages that include FS1; Fubo is among the available options. ViX is also listed among the U.S. viewing services for the Nations League. Before subscribing, confirm that the specific France–Italy match appears in your chosen service’s schedule, since channel access and packages can differ.

In France, the match is available on TF1 and its TF1+ streaming service. In Italy, Rai 1 is carrying the national team’s fixture. UK viewers can check Prime Video for the match, while viewers in India should check Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV listings. Broadcast access may depend on location, subscription and the device being used.

For a last-minute viewing check, look for the fixture listed as France vs Italy, October 2, UEFA Nations League. A stream promising an unrelated tournament or an earlier meeting is not the live match. If you are using a live-TV package, allow time to sign in and confirm that FS1 is included rather than assuming every plan carries it.

Will Kylian Mbappé play?

No. Mbappé suffered a knee injury in France’s 1–0 win over Türkiye on September 25 and is unavailable for the Italy game. His absence removes France’s captain and a major attacking option from Zinédine Zidane’s first home match as national-team coach. It does not change the kickoff time or the broadcast arrangements.

France enters the fixture with two wins from its first two group matches, both by 1–0 scores. Michael Olise scored the late winner against Belgium on September 28, giving viewers a recent example of how France has found a goal without Mbappé. Italy, coached by Roberto Mancini, followed a 2–0 loss to Belgium with a 4–1 win over Türkiye. Those results make Friday’s meeting consequential to both teams’ position in Group A1, though neither side’s earlier form determines the result.

Confirmed starting lineups and any match score should be checked against the live fixture once play begins. A preview published before kickoff cannot reliably tell viewers who starts or what has happened on the pitch.