Mbappé absence tests France as Belgium seek second Nations League win
France travel to Brussels without their captain after a knee injury, while both sides enter the Group A1 match on the back of opening victories.
Belgium host France in Brussels on 28 September in a 2026–27 UEFA Nations League Group A1 match, with France captain Kylian Mbappé sidelined by a knee injury, according to Al Jazeera.
Mbappé scored in France’s 1–0 opening win over Türkiye before sustaining the injury. Al Jazeera reports he is expected to miss two weeks. France also have midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery out with a thigh injury and Matteo Guendouzi suspended.
Belgium began with a 2–0 win over Italy in Rome. Winger Leandro Trossard and goalkeeper Mike Penders are also reported injured.
The match brings new coaches into the fixture: Mark van Bommel for Belgium and Zinedine Zidane for France. France beat Belgium 2–1 in their previous cited Nations League meeting, in October 2024.
Both teams are seeking to build on their winning starts in a competition structured around leagues, with promotion and relegation. The probable line-ups published by Al Jazeera are predictions, not confirmed teams.
