Türkiye optimistic as World Cup dream lives on

• Türkiye head into 2026 hopeful of qualifying for the World Cup

• Coach Vincenzo Montella has survived a difficult period and has a well-balanced squad

• European nation need to defeat Romania and then either Slovakia or Kosovo to qualify

On the evening of 7 September 2025, Turkish football was in turmoil after the national side suffered a chastening 6-0 defeat against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifiers, seemingly leaving their dreams of qualification in tatters. Instead, coach Vincenzo Montella was faced with some very uncomfortable questions, with headlines describing the team’s performance as a ‘debacle’ and ‘humiliation’ among the milder reactions.

Four months on, optimism has returned, Montella has steadied the ship, and a World Cup place is well within reach.

The shift in sentiment is easy to understand, taking into account Türkiye’s performances at EURO 2024, which had fans believing that they could hold their own against the big nations. There was even talk of a ‘golden generation’ emerging. What followed was a textbook case of pride coming before a fall: high expectations ahead of the clash with Spain in Istanbul were dealt a severe blow, leaving Montella under pressure over his chosen starting line-up and tactics.

But this setback only served to strengthen the team’s resolve, something which was welcomed by fans and the Turkish media alike. Montella took full responsibility for the hammering against the European Champions and warned against making any “hasty and final judgments about Türkiye.” His gut feeling turned out to be correct, as his side showed a strong reaction in the following match, beating Bulgaria 6-1.

With that, the tide seems to have turned, and Türkiye have remained undefeated in the qualifiers since. Following convincing wins over Georgia and Bulgaria, the resurgent side faced a crucial test in Seville. With a 14-goal deficit in goal difference, Montella’s squad only had a slim mathematical chance of topping the group but were nonetheless determined to stop Spain from finishing with maximum points. They succeeded, with their 2-2 draw prompting talk of a ‘fightback in Seville’ in the Turkish press.

“My team’s attitude was even more pleasing than the result today,” said a relieved Montella. His decisions to actively rotate the squad (he has used 28 different players), including many younger players, have often been criticised.

The mood ahead of the European play-offs in March is now one of cautious optimism, but there is also tangible excitement. A combination of years of hardship (Türkiye last qualified for a World Cup in 2002) and belief in this blossoming team is creating a highly charged emotional atmosphere. Should Türkiye succeed in qualifying for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, it could trigger huge celebrations. Should they fail, the mood could reach a new low.

Dortmund veteran Salih Ozcan is clear about the team’s ambitions: “We believe in ourselves and our goal remains to reach the World Cup. After this match [against Spain], all countries will likely respect us.”

For now, though, only three teams need to take heed of his message. Türkiye will first face Romania in the play-off semi-final on 26 March, and, if successful, will then play the winner of Slovakia vs Kosovo in the final five days later

During this pivotal period, several rising stars will need to demonstrate that they can handle responsibility. Arda Guler, who is considered to be Turkish football’s ‘wunderkind’, has what it takes to be a game-changer thanks to his outstanding technique and creativity. His partners in midfield are the hugely experienced Hakan Calhanoglu and Ozcan, both of whom have competed in knock-out matches at the highest level, in the UEFA Champions League, for example.

Kenan Yildiz is an equally impressive prospect, and is tipped to score plenty of goals for the Turkish national side in the future. Praised for his agility and ease on the ball, he can play as a solo striker or as a supporting forward. The forward line is packed with talent and, in terms of individual quality, certainly appears to be the strongest part of the squad.

Montella is sure that his squad has enough quality: “We have two finals coming up, and we are taking things one step at a time as we move towards our goal. We will qualify for the World Cup.”

If they succeed, Türkiye will play in a group featuring hosts USA, Australia and Paraguay.