Turkey prepares for UEFA Nations League match against France in Kocaeli

The Turkish national football team has begun preparations for their UEFA Nations League Group A match against France, scheduled for Friday, September 25, at Kocaeli Stadium. Under the leadership of coach Vincenzo Montella, the team held training sessions at the Riva Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp. Several players, including Orkun Kökçü, Deniz Gül, Yunus Akgün, and Muhammed Şengezer, were noted as absent due to injuries or rest, while Demir Ege Tıknaz missed the session due to travel scheduling.

In anticipation of the match, Kocaeli Municipality has launched a tourism initiative to welcome French supporters. The city has prepared French-language promotional films, a digital tourism kit, and information kiosks to showcase Kocaeli’s nature, gastronomy, and history. Visitors staying in local hotels will be greeted with regional specialties such as İzmit pişmaniyesi and Sardala cologne. The initiative aims to leverage the international visibility of the match to promote Kocaeli as a travel destination.