Türkiye 1-0 Romania 

©TM/IMAGO

Türkiye set up the UEFA play-off B showdown against either Slovakia or Kosovo after Ferdi Kadıoğlu’s winner in the 1-0 victory over Romania on Thursday night. Head coach Vincenzo Montella is a step closer to ending their 24-year absence since the last time they participated in a World Cup tournament, when they finished third at the 2002 tournament in Korea/Japan.

The goal came as a result of sustained pressure from the hosts, who dominated much of the first half without breaking the deadlock. But they didn’t have to wait long for Arda Güler to produce a moment of magic. The Real Madrid playmaker, who has the highest market value of any player in the play-offs, spotted the surging run of Kadıoğlu into the penalty area and dug out a pinpoint lofted pass. The Brighton full-back showed great composure to prod the ball beyond the goalkeeper to score only his second international goal.

Kenan Yıldız then went close to doubling their advantage, clipping the crossbar with a curling effort. But Romania came out of their shell in the second half, and only the woodwork denied Valentin Mihăilă the chance to equalise for the visitors. They held out, though, and Türkiye’s passionate supporters created an hostile atmosphere that certainly helped the team get over the line.

Montella’s squad is the second most valuable of all the teams bidding to reach the World Cup with Güler and Yıldız their biggest stars, but they have struggled in recent years. We have spoken to Lara Karacan, Area Manager for Türkiye at Transfermarkt, to receive the lowdown on their previous failing and current prospects.

Why has Türkiye failed to reach the World Cup?

After the historic third-place finish in 2002, the team failed to turn that success into a stable foundation. Frequent coaching changes, instability within the federation and a lack of professionalism at key levels made it difficult to establish a clear sporting direction.

At the same time, youth development remained below its potential for a long period, meaning talented generations were not always developed optimally. In addition, Türkiye repeatedly fell short in crucial qualification phases due to their own inconsistency, with strong performances often followed by unexpected dropped points.”

Is there optimism that Türkiye will reach the World Cup?

There is currently a strong sense of euphoria in Türkiye. Many believe this is the best squad the country has had in years, with numerous players performing at the highest international level and playing key roles for their clubs. Leading the way is Güler, with a market value of around €90 million, making him the most valuable Turkish player of all time, showcasing his exceptional talent at Real Madrid. Yıldız is also fueling optimism: he wears the number 10 at Juventus and, despite his young age, has established himself as one of the faces of a European top club.

In addition, players like Kadıoğlu, who is consistently impressing at Brighton in the Premier League and goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, who has recently demonstrated his top form on the international stage, add to the excitement. With Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the team also has an experienced strategist from Inter. These are just some of the players in top form at their clubs, strengthening the belief that this squad can qualify for the World Cup 2026.

It wasn’t a happy return to Turkey for Romania coach Mircea Lucescu, 80, who became the oldest-ever manager to coach an international match. He knows Turkish football extremely well and is considered a highly experienced tactician, but his side just fell short as Türkiye moved a step closer to securing their spot in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June.