France and Italy secure big Nations League wins as Belgium and Turkey fall
France recovered from a halftime deficit to defeat Belgium 4-1 in the Nations League, while Italy beat Turkey 3-1 in Bologna. Hungary also claimed a 2-1 away win over Ukraine, and the day's other matches included victories for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sweden.
The matches formed part of the fourth round of Nations League fixtures on Monday, 5 October 2026. France conceded first and trailed at the break before going on to win 4-1 against Belgium. Italy led 1-0 at halftime in Bologna and finished with a 3-1 victory over Turkey under Roberto Mancini.
Elsewhere, Hungary earned a 2-1 road result in Ukraine. Bosnia-Herzegovina edged Poland 1-0, Sweden won 1-0 at Romania, Cyprus beat Latvia 2-1, and Northern Ireland-Georgia and Montenegro-Armenia ended 0-0. A listed upcoming France fixture is Italy-France on 12 November.
These results may influence public mood and media debate in the countries involved, particularly France, Italy, Belgium and Turkey. Strong wins could lift fan enthusiasm, youth interest and demand around future national-team matches, while defeats may increase scrutiny on players and coaches. Because the Nations League primarily shapes competitive momentum rather than directly deciding World Cup qualification, the wider social effect is likely to remain mostly cultural and emotional, felt by supporters, players and businesses tied to match days.