Nation dossier · Group D · Out in the group stage

Turkey

Republic of Türkiye

Group DUEFAEliminated

Latest Turkey 3–2 USA · Group D

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Title probability

0.0%

as of 2026-07-20

Overview

Turkey arrive at the 2026 World Cup carrying genuine momentum and a golden generation. After the disappointment of missing 2022, Vincenzo Montella's side rediscovered their identity with an exhilarating run to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, where they pushed the Netherlands all the way.

The spine blends seasoned operators like Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Merih Demiral with thrilling youth in Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız. There is belief in Anatolia that this is the most talented Turkish squad in two decades.

Qualification ended a long absence from the global stage, and the brief is simple: escape the group and announce themselves.

Capital

Ankara

Population

85,664,944

Confederation

UEFA

FIFA code

TUR

World

Region

From Wikipedia

Republic of Türkiye fields one of the 48 national teams contesting the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Source: Wikipedia →

Squad

Goalkeepers3

1
Mert Günok
Fenerbahçe · First-choice goalkeeper
37caps
12
Altay Bayındır
Manchester United · Tall shot-stopping deputy
12caps
23
Uğurcan Çakır
Galatasaray · Commanding number one keeper
39caps

Defenders10

2
Zeki Çelik
Roma · Reliable overlapping right-back
61caps
3
Merih Demiral
Al-Ahli · Scored brace at Euro 2024
62caps
4
Çağlar Söyüncü
Fenerbahçe · Aggressive Premier League experienced stopper
60caps
13
Evren Eren Elmalı
Galatasaray
23caps
14
Abdülkerim Bardakcı
Galatasaray · Composed ball-playing defender
27caps
15
Ozan Kabak
TSG Hoffenheim
30caps
18
Mert Müldür
Fenerbahçe · Energetic two-way right-back
45caps
20
Ferdi Kadıoğlu
Brighton & Hove Albion · Versatile attacking full-back
30caps
22
Kaan Ayhan
Galatasaray · Versatile defender, 70+ caps
73caps
25
Samet Akaydın
Çaykur Rizespor · Physical backup centre-back
19caps

Midfielders4

5
Salih Özcan
Borussia Dortmund · Tidy box-to-box engine
30caps
6
Orkun Kökçü
Beşiktaş · Press-resistant tempo-setter
50caps
10
Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Inter Milan · Captain, century of caps
105caps
16
İsmail Yüksek
Fenerbahçe · Combative midfield anchor
32caps

Forwards9

7
Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu
Fenerbahçe · Prolific winger, 15 goals
52caps
8
Arda Guler
Real Madrid · Real Madrid playmaking talent
29caps
9
Deniz Gul
Porto
8caps
11
Kenan Yıldız
Juventus · Juventus forward, rising star
28caps
17
İrfan Kahveci
Kasımpaşa
47caps
19
Yunus Akgün
Galatasaray · Direct dribbling winger
19caps
21
Baris Yilmaz
Galatasaray
35caps
24
Oguz Aydin
Fenerbahçe
11caps
26
Can Uzun
Eintracht Frankfurt · Young attacking talent
6caps

Model

as of 2026-07-20

Champion0.0%

Reach final0.0%

Semi-final0.0%

Quarter-final0.0%

Round of 160.0%

Advance from group0.0%

Exp. points

3.00

Proj. finish

40.5

Seed Elo

1790

Title-probability trajectory

Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots

Matches

Results

SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Levi's Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

BC Place, Vancouver

History

1954
Group stage
2002
Third place

Culture

Football culture

Turkish fans are among the most fervent and theatrical in the world, with Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş contesting one of Europe's most intense derby rivalries. Matchdays are a riot of flares, drums and deafening choreography. The national side's run to Euro 2024 reignited mass euphoria across the country.

Did you know

Turkey finished third at the 2002 World Cup, their only deep run.
Hakan Şükür scored the fastest goal in World Cup history — 11 seconds in 2002.
The Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe is dubbed the 'Intercontinental Derby'.
Turkey spans two continents, with Istanbul the only city sitting on both.
The team's nickname, 'Crescent-Stars', reflects the symbols on the national flag.