Washington, DC — In 2002, Türkiye took the world by storm after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup semi-final, a milestone most teams could only dream of.
Before the electric atmosphere of Japan’s Saitama Stadium, the Turkish national team proved to be a competitive opponent for Brazil, who ultimately won the match 1-0, ending the tournament run for Türkiye and then-coach Senol Gunes.
Türkiye subsequently went on to secure third place in the tournament.
Türkiye have played in three FIFA World Cups. In 1954, the national team was eliminated in the group stage; in 2002, they achieved their best-ever result; and in 2026, they are set to mark their first return to the global stage in 24 years.
The team is “jam-packed with talent,” notes Vincenzo Montella, Italy’s former striker and current head coach of the Türkiye national team since 2023.
“The players get on like a house on fire and are a really tight-knit unit… Türkiye are a very young, well-balanced side with a very bright future ahead,” says Montella of the Crescent Stars, who are returning to football’s grandest stage with the hopes of reviving the 2002 achievement.
Montella is proud and optimistic about this “golden generation” and their potential to surprise as the tournament’s “dark horse”.
It was on March 31 last year when Türkiye secured their World Cup ticket after beating Kosovo 1-0 in the play-offs, earning their spot in Group D along with host nation the US, Paraguay and Australia.
During the 2024 Euro, Türkiye reached the quarter-finals.
In that tournament, the team exhibited aggressive pressing and technical quality, and only lost to the Netherlands, a European powerhouse, 2-1.
Although Türkiye’s rivals in Group D could pose a significant challenge, the team’s historic World Cup qualification and an impressive run at the 2024 Euro are expected to help them reach the knockout stage and beyond.
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Türkiye’s squad
Türkiye’s confirmed squad consists of 26 players as follows:
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Mert Gunok (Fenerbahce), Ugurcan Cakir (Galatasaray).
Defenders: Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Caglar Soyuncu (Fenerbahçe), Eren Elmali (Galatasaray), Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Merih Demiral (Al Ahli), Mert Muldur (Fenerbahçe), Ozan Kabak (Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydın (Caykur Rizespor), Zeki Celik (AS Roma).
Midfielders: Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas), Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund).
Forwards: Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Baris Alper Yilmaz (Galatasaray), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Deniz Gul (FC Porto), Irfan Can Kahveci (Kasimpasa), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce), Oguz Aydin (Fenerbahce), Yunus Akgun (Galatasaray).
The top names to watch, however, are Real Madrid’s Guler, Juventus’ forward Yildiz, and veteran captain Calhanoglu.
During the last season, Guler became Real Madrid’s key player due to his exceptional versatility. The 21-year-old can play as an attacking midfielder (playmaker), a central midfielder and a winger.
