Zinedine Zidane’s first match in charge of France has already generated unprecedented demand, with tickets for his opening home fixture selling out less than a day after they went on sale.
France are due to face Italy on 2 October in the UEFA Nations League, with the match scheduled to take place at the Stade de France. The Paris venue can accommodate 80,000 spectators, and the French national team’s official accounts confirmed that the full allocation had been sold.
The rush for tickets underlines Zidane’s enduring popularity and the level of public interest surrounding the start of his reign. The former France captain is taking over from Didier Deschamps, who led the national team for 14 years.
Zidane’s appointment marks the beginning of a new era for Les Bleus, with expectations that he can help the side return to the leading position in European and international football.
Although the sold-out fixture against Italy will be his first home match, France’s campaign under Zidane is set to begin in Turkey on 25 September. The team will then travel to Belgium three days later for a second Nations League match.
France are scheduled to host Belgium again in Paris on 5 October. According to media outlet RMC, only a limited number of category-one tickets remained available for that fixture.
The two sell-out announcements provide an early indication of the strong public appeal surrounding Zidane’s arrival, even before he has taken charge of his first match on French soil. His return to the national-team setup as head coach has created considerable anticipation following Deschamps’ long spell in charge.
The Stade de France meeting with Italy will therefore carry significance beyond its place in the Nations League schedule. It will represent Zidane’s first appearance as France manager in front of a home crowd, with the 80,000-capacity stadium expected to be full.
France’s opening sequence of fixtures will give Zidane three early tests in a short period: the trip to Turkey on 25 September, the visit to Belgium three days later and the home encounter with Italy on 2 October. The return meeting with Belgium in Paris will follow on 5 October.
With tickets for the Italy fixture disappearing within hours and demand remaining high for the later match against Belgium, interest in Zidane’s first games has already translated into record crowds before his tenure has officially begun on the touchline.
