Why did the Turkey‑France Nations League match end up in Izmit rather than Istanbul?
Surrounded by farms, cattle and private gardens, Kocaeli Stadium hosts Zidane’s first game as France coach on Friday at 20:45. Opened in 2018, it seats 35,000 and promises a noisy atmosphere, though Istanbul’s 50,000‑seat Şükrü Saracoğlu or Rams Park could have amplified the roar.
Fear of violent outbreaks
The venue sits about 1 hour 40 minutes east of the 15‑million‑strong metropolis. Turkey’s recent World Cup flop may have nudged officials northward. After 24 years of hope, Montella’s side stumbled against Australia (2‑0) and Paraguay (1‑0), sealing elimination, while a 3‑2 win over the United States did little to lift spirits.
Local officials feared fans might turn violent during the French showdown, so they opted for the modest Kocaeli ground, home to Kocaelispor and previously used by the national team. In my view, the smaller venue was a sensible safety move.
When asked, coach Vincenzo Montella cited proximity to the squad’s training base as a key factor. “We want to play in every stadium,” he said. “We’ve used several Istanbul venues before. Kocaeli is close to our Riva facilities, so we chose it. The pitch suits us fine.”
Yet the turf looked far from perfect during Thursday’s pre‑match training. The grass was slick and in poor shape. “When we arrived last week the surface wasn’t great, but we were told it would be ready,” Montella added. The French will need to avoid slipping on that uncertain carpet.