France and Italy, meanwhile, have three points after two matches. The Azzurri opened their campaign with a 2–0 home defeat against Belgium but responded strongly in their next match, beating Türkiye 4–1 in Bursa. The victory gave Italy renewed confidence ahead of their difficult trip to Paris.

The match also marks an important occasion for France head coach Zinedine Zidane. After being appointed as France's new manager, Zidane has won his first two matches away from home. The meeting with Italy will be his first home game in charge of the national team.

France will be without Kylian Mbappé, who is unavailable because of injury. However, the team still has several attacking options, including Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise. Italy will look to players such as Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi and Pio Esposito after their strong performance against Türkiye.

The history between the two nations adds another layer to the encounter. Italy and France have met many times over the years, including two Nations League matches in 2024. Italy won 3–1 in Paris in September 2024, while France returned the favour with a 3–1 victory in Milan two months later.

With France looking to maintain their perfect start and Italy attempting to close the gap at the top of Group A1, the Stade de France is expected to host a highly competitive international match.

The two teams will also meet again later in the Nations League, with Italy scheduled to host France at the Giuseppe Meazza in Milan on November 12, 2026.