Turkiye are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2002, and they arrive carried by a remarkable young generation. Arda Guler of Real Madrid and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus lead the line under coach Vincenzo Montella, with captain Hakan Calhanoglu providing the experience. After finishing second to Spain in qualifying, they came through the play-offs the hard way, beating Romania and then Kosovo away in Pristina. Now they face a demanding Group D against the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
Turkiye's last World Cup was 2002, when a side built around Hakan Sukur and Rustu Recber finished third in South Korea and Japan, still the country's best ever result. The 2026 tournament ends a 24-year wait, and the symbolism is not lost on anyone: neither Arda Guler nor Kenan Yildiz had even been born the last time the country reached a World Cup.
This time the journey ran through the play-offs. Turkiye finished second in UEFA qualifying Group E behind a strong Spain, which sent them into the March 2026 play-off bracket rather than straight to the finals. They handled it. A 1-0 win over Romania in the semi-final, with Ferdi Kadioglu finishing a defence-splitting Arda Guler assist, set up a final away to Kosovo in Pristina. There, Kerem Akturkoglu's 53rd-minute goal sealed a 1-0 win and the ticket to North America.
For a federation that has watched a generation of talent come and go without a World Cup stage, qualification is more than a result. It is the platform this young group has been pointed toward for years.
Montella has built around youth without abandoning experience. These are the names Turkiye's campaign will run through, the gifted young attackers who define the side and the veteran who steadies it.
The face of this team. The Real Madrid playmaker is one of the most coveted young talents in world football, a left-footed creator with vision and set-piece quality. His assist for the play-off winner against Romania was decisive in getting Turkiye here, and 2026 will be his first World Cup.
The Juventus forward who has emerged as Turkiye's other generational talent. Quick, direct and comfortable drifting in off the left, Yildiz gives Montella a genuine goal threat to pair with Guler's creativity. Like Guler, he was born after Turkiye's last World Cup.
The experienced leader and captain. The Inter Milan midfielder controls tempo from deep, takes the set pieces and penalties, and provides the calm head a young squad needs. He is the bridge between Turkiye's last competitive eras and this new one.
The man who scored the goal that took Turkiye to the World Cup, his strike in Pristina beating Kosovo in the play-off final. A direct, hard-running wide forward, Akturkoglu offers an end product that complements the side's more intricate creators.
A versatile, energetic full-back who scored the play-off semi-final winner against Romania from Arda Guler's pass. Comfortable on either flank, Kadioglu gives Montella balance and overlapping width down the sides.
The most experienced centre-back in the group, an aerially dominant defender who anchors the back line. His leadership at the heart of defence is critical for a side whose strengths lean so heavily toward attack.
Here is Turkiye's 35-man extended candidate squad as named by Vincenzo Montella, grouped by position, from which the final 26 are selected for the tournament. The certain starters and headline names are tagged. Hakan Calhanoglu keeps the captaincy.
Turkiye were drawn into Group D alongside co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and Australia. It is a balanced but demanding group: the United States carry home advantage and crowds, Paraguay bring South American resilience, and Australia are a well-drilled, physical side. Read the full 2026 World Cup schedule for every fixture and host city.
With the expanded 48-team format, the top two from each group plus the best third-placed sides reach the round of 32, so Turkiye have a realistic route through even from a tough group. A strong start against Australia would set the tone.
Taken together, the squad and the qualifying run point to a clear identity under the Italian coach:
This page draws on the following published reporting and official records:
Turkiye are one of 48 nations heading to the 2026 World Cup. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
All of Turkiye's Group D fixtures against the USA, Paraguay and Australia, plus all 104 matches across 16 host cities.
Open the schedule ›The other side of the draw: Thomas Tuchel's official 26-man England squad and the headline omissions.
Read the England page ›The top players going to the 2026 World Cup. See where Arda Guler ranks among the tournament's brightest talents.
View the top 12 ›The latest editorial coverage and storylines from the road to the 2026 World Cup.
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