Expert opinion 

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Türkiye is home to some of the most passionate supporters on the planet and a nation awaits ahead of the World Cup play-offs. It’s been 24 long years since Türkiye participated in the most prestigious international tournament but will they end their pain by qualifying for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico?

Türkiye are strong favourites to reach the finals but they must first progress past Romania to set up the UEFA play-off B showdown against either Slovakia or Kosovo. Vincenzo Montella’s squad is the second most valuable of all the teams bidding to reach the World Cup with Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız their biggest stars. Türkiye famously finished third in their last World Cup – in Japan and Korea in 2002 – and we’ve 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 AGüler, 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 Ferdi 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.

The only notable concern is opposing coach Mircea Lucescu. He knows Turkish football extremely well and is considered a highly experienced tactician. The first match in particular could be decisive – but if Türkiye gets off to a strong start, belief in their first World Cup qualification in 24 years is stronger than ever.”