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Türkiye and France are preparing to face off in a UEFA Nations League A Group 1 match at Kocaeli Stadium on Friday, Sept. 25, with kickoff set for 9:45 p.m. local time (6:45 p.m. GMT). Both sides have spent recent days finalizing preparations on their respective grounds.
Kocaeli Stadium, which has previously hosted major national team fixtures, has been prepared to welcome around 35,000 spectators, including more than 1,700 fans expected to travel from France for the occasion.
Dedicated content was produced for visiting French football fans, including a French-language version of the promotional film "Show Me Türkiye: Kocaeli" highlighting the city's natural, cultural and culinary attractions.
A "Digital Tourism Kit" was sent by email to French visitors who booked accommodation in Kocaeli through hotels and travel agencies ahead of their arrival, while tourism maps outlining the city's key sights were distributed to local hotels.
Preparations had been coordinated through the Provincial Sports Security Board, covering parking, road routes, and security measures both inside and outside the stadium.
Groundskeeping teams had worked to protect the pitch from turf disease risks common during this time of year, ensuring the playing surface would be in top condition for the match.
The stadium's lighting, sound system, and pitch have all been adjusted to meet requests from French broadcasters, who have completed their own preparations for covering the match.
The insights gained from last year's Oct. 14 World Cup qualifier at the same venue—where Türkiye defeated Georgia 4-1—proved invaluable in planning for the upcoming France match.
Meanwhile, the French national team has continued its own preparations under head coach Zinedine Zidane at their training base in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, located southeast of Paris.
Forwards Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue were among the players seen taking part in France's recent training sessions ahead of the trip to Türkiye.
Defenders Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot were also present at the training ground as the squad fine-tuned its preparations for the Group 1 opener.
With both teams treating the fixture as an early test in their Nations League campaign, officials in Kocaeli say they are aiming to deliver a well-organized event while backing the national team to secure a positive result on home soil.
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