Turkey
The Turkey National Team, founded in 1923 and governed by the Turkish Football Federation, is one of Europe’s proud traditional football nations. Best known for its remarkable third-place finish at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and a memorable run to the UEFA Euro 2008 semi-finals, Turkey is admired for its passion, resilience, and powerful connection with its supporters, continuing to carry a rich football heritage onto the international stage.
Explore the official Turkey National Team squad and get a clear overview of every player selected for the tournament. Discover the key details behind the stars, rising talents, and core squad members who shape the team’s World Cup 2026 campaign.
Yunus Akgün
Attacker
Jul 7, 2000
Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Midfielder
Feb 8, 1994
Mehmet Zeki Çelik
Midfielder
Feb 17, 1997
Salih Özcan
Midfielder
Jan 11, 1998
Atakan Karazor
Midfielder
Oct 13, 1996
Doğucan Haspolat
Midfielder
Feb 11, 2000
Okay Yokuşlu
Midfielder
Mar 9, 1994
Fehmi Mert Günok
Goalkeeper
Mar 1, 1989
Uğurcan Çakır
Goalkeeper
Apr 5, 1996
Emirhan Topçu
Defender
Oct 11, 2000
Altay Bayındır
Goalkeeper
Apr 14, 1998
Muhammed Şengezer
Goalkeeper
Jan 5, 1997
Abdülkerim Bardakcı
Defender
Sep 7, 1994
Samet Akaydin
Defender
Mar 13, 1994
Rayyan Baniya
Defender
Feb 18, 1999
Muhammet Taha Şahin
Defender
Oct 22, 2000
Eren Sami Dinkçi
Attacker
Dec 13, 2001
Kenan Yıldız
Attacker
May 4, 2005
Deniz Daniel Gül
Attacker
Jul 2, 2004
Mustafa Erhan Hekimoğlu
Attacker
Apr 22, 2007
Meet the Turkey National Team coaching staff, who play a vital role in preparing the squad for success on the international stage. Working behind the scenes, they support the team’s tactical development, physical conditioning, match preparation, and overall performance throughout World Cup 2026.
Vincenzo Montella
Birthday:
Jun 18, 1974
Nationality:
Italy
Explore the latest Turkey matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and stay updated on results, key moments, and standout player performances from every game.
Kosovo vs Türkiye
0 : 1
Mar 31, 2026 • World Cup - Qualification Europe
Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, Prishtinë
Türkiye vs Romania
1 : 0
Mar 26, 2026 • World Cup - Qualification Europe
Tüpraş Stadyumu, Istanbul
Spain vs Türkiye
2 : 2
Nov 18, 2025 • World Cup - Qualification Europe
Estadio de la Cartuja, Seville
Türkiye vs Bulgaria
2 : 0
Nov 15, 2025 • World Cup - Qualification Europe
Timsah Arena, Bursa
Türkiye vs Georgia
4 : 1
Oct 14, 2025 • World Cup - Qualification Europe
Kocaeli Stadium, Izmit
Bulgaria vs Türkiye
1 : 6
Oct 11, 2025 • World Cup - Qualification Europe
Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia
Türkiye vs Spain
0 : 6
Sep 7, 2025 • World Cup - Qualification Europe
Medas Konya Büyüksehir Belediyesi Stadium, Konya
Georgia vs Türkiye
2 : 3
Sep 4, 2025 • World Cup - Qualification Europe
Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi
Mexico vs Türkiye
1 : 0
Jun 11, 2025 • Friendlies
Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill
USA vs Türkiye
1 : 2
Jun 7, 2025 • Friendlies
Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, East Hartford
Turkey reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing second in UEFA Group E behind Spain, then winning two playoff matches: 1–0 vs Romania in the semi-final and 1–0 vs Kosovo in the final. Their overall qualifying record was 8 matches, 6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, with 19 goals scored and 12 conceded. The campaign included strong wins over Georgia and Bulgaria, a heavy home defeat to Spain, and a valuable 2–2 draw away in Seville that helped confirm playoff momentum before the knockout path.
Played
Qualification matches played
Won
Matches won
Drawn
Matches drawn
Lost
Matches lost
Goals For
Total goals scored
Goals Against
Total goals conceded
Goal Difference
GF minus GA
Points
3 per win, 1 per draw
Road to WC
Match | Date | MatchUp | Stadium | City | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sep 4, 2025 | Georgia vs Türkiye | Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena | Tbilisi | 2:3 |
2 | Sep 7, 2025 | Türkiye vs Spain | Medas Konya Büyüksehir Belediyesi Stadium | Konya | 0:6 |
3 | Oct 11, 2025 | Bulgaria vs Türkiye | Vasil Levski National Stadium | Sofia | 1:6 |
4 | Oct 14, 2025 | Türkiye vs Georgia | Kocaeli Stadium | Izmit | 4:1 |
5 | Nov 15, 2025 | Türkiye vs Bulgaria | Timsah Arena | Bursa | 2:0 |
6 | Nov 18, 2025 | Spain vs Türkiye | Estadio de la Cartuja | Seville | 2:2 |
7 | Mar 26, 2026 | Türkiye vs Romania | Tüpraş Stadyumu | Istanbul | 1:0 |
8 | Mar 31, 2026 | Kosovo vs Türkiye | Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri | Prishtinë | 0:1 |
Turkey’s World Cup history is relatively short, but it includes one of the most memorable runs in modern tournament history. Their first appearance came in 1954, but the defining chapter arrived in 2002, when Turkey reached the semi-finals and eventually finished third — still the best World Cup result in the nation’s history. That remarkable campaign featured dramatic wins over Japan, Senegal, and co-hosts South Korea, confirming Turkey as one of the tournament’s great surprise stories.
The 2002 side was shaped by standout figures such as Rüştü Reçber, Hasan Şaş, and İlhan Mansız, while Hakan Şükür produced one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history. In the third-place match against South Korea, he scored after just 10.8 seconds, still the fastest goal ever scored at a men’s World Cup. Turkey has since endured a long absence, but qualification for 2026 has opened a new chapter and revived memories of that golden run.
Turkey have appeared at the FIFA World Cup twice — 1954 and 2002 — with 2026 set to be their third participation. Their qualification for 2026 ended a 24-year absence from the finals.
Turkey’s best World Cup finish came in 2002, when they reached the semi-finals and finished third. That remains the high point of the nation’s World Cup history.
Hakan Şükür is Turkey’s top World Cup scorer with 3 goals. He was one of the standout figures of the team’s remarkable 2002 run.
Several players from the 2002 side share Turkey’s record for most World Cup matches played, with 7 appearances each. That core group includes Rüştü Reçber, Alpay Özalan, Bülent Korkmaz, Hasan Şaş, Yıldıray Baştürk, and Hakan Şükür.
In 2002, Hakan Şükür scored after just 11 seconds against South Korea in the third-place match, still the fastest goal in men’s World Cup history. That same tournament ended with Turkey finishing third, securing the country’s greatest World Cup achievement.
Follow Turkey at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and discover where the team will play throughout the tournament. Explore the full match schedule, host cities, and stadiums set to stage some of the competition’s biggest moments. From group-stage fixtures to possible knockout-round drama, find everything you need to experience the action live at football’s biggest event.
Turkey has played at the FIFA World Cup 2 times before 2026 (1954 and 2002).
Turkey has never reached a FIFA World Cup final.
Turkey has reached the knockout stage once — in 2002, when they went all the way to a 3rd-place finish.
Turkey’s best World Cup result is 3rd place (2002).
Turkey’s worst result is a group-stage exit (1954).
Turkey’s most talked-about rivalries are regional, with particularly intense matchups often linked to Greece and other nearby neighbors.
Turkey qualified through UEFA qualification, booking a place at the finals to make their third World Cup appearance.
Turkey’s group-stage venues are set for Vancouver, San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles. They play Australia in Vancouver on June 13, 2026, then face Paraguay in the San Francisco Bay Area on June 19, 2026, and finish against USA in Los Angeles on June 25, 2026.
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