Zinedine Zidane to Face Italy Again as France Coach, Two Decades After World Cup Final Incident
Twenty years after a famous headbutt incident in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, Zinedine Zidane will face Italy again, this time as the coach of France.
Bakersfield, CA, October 1, 2026 —
Zinedine Zidane, the iconic former player and current coach of the French national football team, is set to face Italy once more in a significant fixture. This upcoming match holds particular resonance as it marks a reunion against the Italian team nearly two decades after a memorable incident during the 2006 FIFA World Cup final.
In 2006, Zidane was a key player for France when they met Italy in the World Cup final. The match is famously remembered for a controversial moment in extra time where Zidane was sent off after headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi. This incident occurred in what was Zidane’s final professional match before his retirement from football. Italy went on to win the final against France in a penalty shootout.
Now, two decades later, Zidane will return to the touchline, leading the French squad against the same Italian opposition. The circumstances of this reunion highlight a career transition for Zidane, from a celebrated player involved in a pivotal, albeit contentious, moment in his final game, to a commanding figure as a coach. The specific details of the upcoming match, including the date, venue, and the competition it falls under, were not provided in the summary. However, the parallel between the 2006 final and this future coaching encounter against Italy underscores a notable narrative in Zidane’s footballing journey.
Story summarized from the original created by JEROME PUGMIRE, Associated Press on www.kget.com, see more information here.
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