The streets of Türkiye were filled with people hanging out of beeping cars and waving flags when their men’s football team ended their 24-year wait for a FIFA World Cup berth.
After an intense playoff win on 31 March, the nation advanced to the 2026 edition as one of the last four European teams, securing qualification dramatically and marking only their third appearance — and first since a third-place finish in 2002.
With a glittering squad featuring a blend of youthful exuberance and seasoned experience, the Crescent-Stars are back on the global stage.
Drawn in Group C, they will be up against Australia, Paraguay and the tournament co-hosts USA, in the opening round.
Here is what you need to know about Türkiye.
- FIFA World Cup: All teams, squads and players – complete list
- Who are the big stars missing from the FIFA World Cup?
Quick facts
- Captain: Hakan Çalhanoğlu
- Manager: Vincenzo Montella
- World Cup appearances (including 2026): 3
- Best World Cup result: Third (2002)
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Türkiye’s provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayındır (Manchester United), Ersin Destanoğlu (Beşiktaş A.Ş.), Mert Günok (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Muhammed Şengezer (Rams Başakşehir FK), Uğurcan Çakır (Galatasaray A.Ş.)
Defenders: Abdülkerim Bardakcı (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Ahmetcan Kaplan (NEC Nijmegen), Çağlar Söyüncü (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Eren Elmalı (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Ferdi Kadıoğlu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Mert Müldür (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Mustafa Eskihellaç (Trabzonspor A.Ş.), Ozan Kabak (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydın (Çaykur Rizespor A.Ş.), Yusuf Akçiçek (Al-Hilal), Zeki Çelik (AS Roma)
Midfielders: Atakan Karazor (VfB Stuttgart), Demir Ege Tıknaz (SC Braga), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Internazionale), İsmail Yüksek (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Orkun Kökçü (Beşiktaş A.Ş.), Salih Özcan (Borussia Dortmund)
Forwards: Aral Şimşir (FC Midtjylland), Arda Güler (Real Madrid), Barış Alper Yılmaz (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Deniz Gül (FC Porto), İrfan Can Kahveci (Kasımpaşa A.Ş.), Kenan Yıldız (Juventus), Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Oğuz Aydın (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Yunus Akgün (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Yusuf Sarı (Rams Başakşehir FK)
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/fifa-world-cup-2026-turkiye-all-players-full-squad-list-key-stats-schedule
