Turkey is actively competing in the UEFA playoffs to secure a coveted spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. This article explores the prospective group stage opponents that could await the Turkish national team should they successfully navigate the playoffs.
Under the leadership of Vincenzo Montella, the Turkish national team still holds strong aspirations for World Cup participation. Following a successful semi-final triumph against Romania, the team from the Bosphorus is set to face the winner of the match between Slovakia and Kosovo in the playoff final.
Turkey at the 2026 World Cup: Possible Group Stage Opponents
The established playoff structure already provides a clear outline of Turkey’s potential World Cup group. If captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu guides his squad to victory in Playoff Tournament C, Turkey will be placed in Group D at the World Cup. This group already has the USA, Paraguay, and Australia confirmed as participants.
| Group D | |
|---|---|
| USA | Paraguay |
| Australia | Turkey / Slovakia / Kosovo |
Should they qualify, this would mark Turkey’s first World Cup appearance since 2002, a memorable tournament where they achieved an impressive third-place finish. Since that historic achievement, the team has not managed to secure qualification for the global football showcase.
Turkey at the 2026 World Cup: Playoff Fixtures Overview
Following their hard-fought semi-final victory over Romania, Turkey is preparing to face the victor of the Slovakia vs. Kosovo encounter in the decisive playoff final. Below is an overview of the key playoff fixtures:
| Round | Date | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-final | Thursday, March 26 | Turkey vs. Romania | Istanbul | 1:0 |
| Final | Tuesday, March 31 | Slovakia / Kosovo vs. Turkey | — | -:- |
Turkey at the 2026 World Cup: Squad for the Playoffs
The following is the official squad selected for Turkey’s crucial World Cup playoff campaign:
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||
| Altay Bayindir | Manchester United | |
| Mert Günok | Fenerbahce | |
| Muhammed Sengezer | RAMS Basaksehir | |
| Ugurcan Cakir | Galatasaray | |
| Defenders | ||
| 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 | |
| Midfielders | ||
| 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 | |
| Forwards | ||
| Deniz Gül | FC Porto | |
| Kenan Yildiz | Juventus | |
| Semih Kilicsoy | Cagliari Calcio | |