The Turkish national team has a strong chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Following their successful navigation through the UEFA playoffs, they are now one step away from securing their coveted spot.
After a triumphant semifinal match against Romania, the team from the Bosphorus is set to face Kosovo in the final playoff encounter.
Turkey at the 2026 World Cup: Group Stage Opponents After Playoffs
The potential path for Turkey’s World Cup group is already established, contingent on their success in the playoffs. Should they qualify, Turkey will be placed in Group D. The United States, Paraguay, and Australia are already confirmed teams in this group.
| Group D | |
|---|---|
| USA | Paraguay |
| Australia | Turkey / Kosovo |
This would mark Turkey’s first World Cup appearance since 2002, where they famously secured a third-place finish.
Turkey at the 2026 World Cup: Broadcast Details
The 2026 World Cup, featuring 48 participating nations, will be broadcast as usual on free-to-air television. However, public broadcasters ARD and ZDF will only show a portion of the tournament’s 60 matches, including the opening game, all matches involving the German national team, both semifinals, and the final. MagentaTV holds the complete broadcasting rights for all 104 matches.
Turkey at the 2026 World Cup: Playoff Fixtures Overview
Following their semifinal victory against Romania, Turkey is set to face Kosovo in the final playoff match today.
| Round | Date | Match | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal | Thursday, March 26 | Turkey vs. Romania | Istanbul | 1:0 |
| Final | Tuesday, March 31 | Kosovo vs. Turkey | Kosovo | 0:1 |
Turkey at the 2026 World Cup: Squad for the Playoff Matches
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | ||
| Altay Bayindir | Manchester United | |
| Mert Günok | Fenerbahce | |
| Muhammed Sengezer | RAMS Basaksehir | |
| Ugurcan Cakir | Galatasaray | |
| Defence | ||
| Abdülkerim Bardakci | Galatasaray | |
| Eren Elmali | Galatasaray | |
| Ahmetcan Kaplan | NEC Nijmegen | |
| Ferdi Kadioglu | Brighton & Hove Albion | |
| Merih Demiral | Al-Ahli SFC | |
| Mert Müldür | Fenerbahce | |
| Mustafa Eskihellac | Trabzonspor | |
| Ozan Kabak | TSG 1899 Hoffenheim | |
| Samet Akaydin | Caykur Rizespor | |
| Zeki Celik | AS Roma | |
| Midfield | ||
| Atakan Karazor | VfB Stuttgart | |
| Hakan Calhanoglu | Inter Milan | |
| Ismail Yüksek | Fenerbahce | |
| Kaan Ayhan | Galatasaray | |
| Orkun Kökcü | Besiktas | |
| Salih Özcan | Borussia Dortmund | |
| Aral Simsir | FC Midtjylland | |
| Arda Güler | Real Madrid | |
| Baris Alper Yilmaz | Galatasaray | |
| Yunus Akgün | Galatasaray | |
| Kerem Aktürkoglu | Fenerbahce | |
| Oguz Aydin | Fenerbahce | |
| Irfan Can Kahveci | Kasimpasa | |
| Forward | ||
| Deniz Gül | FC Porto | |
| Kenan Yildiz | Juventus Turin | |
| Semih Kilicsoy | Cagliari Calcio | |