Turkiye ends its 24-year wait for a return to the world’s biggest football event and heads to North America for the FIFA World Cup this summer.
Vincenzo Montella’s side navigated a competitive European qualifying campaign, finishing just three points behind Spain in their group before edging through the play-offs with successive 1-0 victories over Romania and Kosovo to secure their place in the tournament.
The return marks only Türkiye’s fourth World Cup appearance overall, and their first since a remarkable third-place finish on home soil back in 2002.
The Crescent-Stars arrive in North America with genuine optimism, boasting a squad brimming with talent at both ends of the pitch.
Real Madrid’s Arda Güler has been in exceptional form throughout the 2025-26 season, leading the Spanish capital club for chances created, while Juventus forward Kenan Yıldız has further cemented his reputation as one of European football’s most exciting young players.
Alongside the creativity of the attack, captain Hakan Calhanoglu provides steel and leadership from the heart of midfield.
Turkiye, along with the United States, Paraguay and Australia, are drawn together in Group D.
Turkiye 2026 World Cup fixtures
- Sunday, 14th June – Australia vs Türkiye – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- Saturday, 20th June – Türkiye vs Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, USA
- Friday, 26th June – Türkiye vs United States – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
What time do Turkiye’s World Cup games kick-off?
All kick-off times are BST.
- Australia vs Turkiye, 5am
- Turkiye vs Paraguay, 4am
- Turkiye vs United States, 3am
Turkiye 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Ugurcan Cakir (Galatasaray), Mert Gunok (Fenerbahce), Altay Bayindir (Man United)
Defenders: Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Zeki Celik (AS Roma), Caglar Soyuncu (Fenerbahce), Mert Muldur (Fenerbahce), Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ozan Kabak (TSG Hoffenheim), Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Eren Elmali (Galatasaray), Samet Akaydin (Caykur Rizesport)
Midfielders: Hakan Calhanoglou (Inter Milan, Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund)
Forwards: Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce), Irfan Can Kahveci (Kasimpasa), Baris Apler Yilmaz (Galatasaray), Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Yunus Akgun (Galatasaray), Oguz Aydin (Fenerbahce), Deniz Gul (Porto), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt)
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