Squad, Montella, Güler & Group D
Türkiye FIFA World Cup 2026 guide: Montella’s return after 24 years, Güler, Yıldız, Çalhanoğlu, Group D fixtures, tactics, history and predictions.
Türkiye
Ay-Yıldızlılar · UEFA · Group D
Everything at a glance
- Nickname
- Ay-Yıldızlılar The Crescent-Stars
- Confederation
- UEFA
- FIFA Ranking
- 25th 25th in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking
- Head Coach
- Vincenzo Montella Italy
- Captain
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu Midfielder; Inter Milan
- World Cup Appearances
- 3 1954, 2002, 2026
- Best Finish
- Third place 2002
- Group
- Group D USA, Paraguay, Australia
Back after 24 years — and carrying one of the most exciting attacks in the tournament.
Türkiye return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 24 years, having last appeared at the 2002 tournament where they finished a remarkable third. Under Italian head coach Vincenzo Montella, they secured qualification dramatically through the UEFA play-offs, winning on 31 March 2026 to book a place at only their third World Cup ever.
Montella named a 35-man provisional squad in mid-May 2026, with a deadline in early June to trim to the final 26. The group blends elite young talent with experienced leaders.
Türkiye boast one of the most exciting young attacking cores at the entire tournament.
Türkiye boast one of the most exciting young attacking cores at the entire tournament. Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Juventus’s Kenan Yıldız are among the brightest teenagers and young attackers in world football, both featuring in elite IFFHS young-player selections. Around them sits the experienced spine of captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the Inter Milan midfield metronome. The combination of generational youth and a proud 2002 legacy makes Türkiye a genuine dark horse.
The most talented non-host side in Group D.
In Group D with co-hosts USA, Paraguay and Australia, Türkiye are arguably the most talented non-host side in the group and will fancy their chances of advancing. The expanded 48-team format and their attacking quality make the knockout rounds a realistic target.
Fan expectations will be high
Expectations among fans, after a 24-year wait, will be high.
Montella’s squad
From Montella’s 35-man provisional squad. Likely starters marked with *. The final 26 will be confirmed in early June.
Goalkeepers
5- Altay Bayindir
- Ersin Destanoglu
- Mert Gunok
- Muhammed Sengezer
- Ugurcan Cakir
Defenders
12- Abdulkerim Bardakci
- Ahmetcan Kaplan
- Caglar Soyuncu
- Eren Elmali
- Ferdi Kadioglu
- Merih Demiral
- Mert Muldur
- Mustafa Eskihellac
- Ozan Kabak
- Samet Akaydin
- Yusuf Akcicek
- Zeki Celik
Midfielders
7- Atakan Karazor
- Demir Ege Tiknaz
- Hakan Calhanoglu
- Ismail Yuksek
- Kaan Ayhan
- Orkun Kokcu
- Salih Ozcan
Forwards
11- Aral Simsir
- Arda Guler
- Baris Alper Yilmaz
- Can Uzun
- Deniz Gul
- Irfan Can Kahveci
- Kenan Yildiz
- Kerem Akturkoglu
- Oguz Aydin
- Yunus Akgun
- Yusuf Sari
★ Likely starters. Uğurcan Çakır projected as No. 1 (confirm against final squad). A center-forward option is also named in the provisional 35. Club details for several players not available in source. Final 26 to be confirmed in early June.
The names that decide it
Elite passing range and dead-ball specialist. Importance: the team’s leader and tempo-setter. Fact: one of the best free-kick and penalty takers in world football.
Left-footed creator with vision and set-piece quality. Importance: the creative jewel of the new generation. Fact: began at Fenerbahçe before joining Real Madrid in 2023.
Powerful, technically gifted attacker with positional intelligence. Importance: a primary goal threat and dribbling outlet. Fact: a Bayern Munich academy graduate who moved to Juventus in 2022.
Aggressive, physical defender. Importance: anchors the back line and is a set-piece scoring threat. Fact: an experienced international with major-tournament moments (confirm current club).
Pacy, direct wide attacker. Importance: provides width and a goal threat from the flanks. Fact: a regular Türkiye attacking option (confirm current club).
Breakout Player
Kenan Yıldız — Already a star at Juventus, a strong World Cup in front of a global audience could vault him into the conversation among the tournament’s standout young players and onto the world stage.
Most Underrated Player
Ferdi Kadıoğlu — The versatile full back who can operate on either flank does the understated defensive and overlapping work that lets Türkiye’s stars shine. He is often overshadowed by the attacking names (confirm current club).
Possession-oriented, attacking football — Çalhanoğlu from deep, Güler and Yıldız given freedom.
Montella favors a possession-oriented, attacking approach that maximizes his creative talent. Expect a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with Çalhanoğlu dictating from deep and Güler and Yıldız given freedom in the final third. Türkiye look to control games through the ball and exploit space with quick, technical combinations, while relying on Demiral to hold the defense together.
By the numbers
Attack: Güler, Yıldız and a creative captain make this a top-tier attacking unit.
Midfield: Çalhanoğlu anchors a technically strong group.
Defense: Capable but the potential weak link against elite forwards.
Goalkeeping: Solid options without an undisputed world-class No. 1.
Depth: A deep, talented pool, especially in attack.
Experience: Plenty of club pedigree but a youthful core at this level.
Two appearances, one unforgettable third-place finish — and back after 24 years.
Türkiye have appeared at just two previous World Cups. In 1954 they qualified dramatically (via a drawing of lots after a play-off with Spain) and exited in the group stage, recording a 7–0 win over South Korea. Their crowning moment came at the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, where they reached the semifinals before losing 1–0 to Brazil, then beat South Korea 3–2 to claim third place — their best-ever finish. In that third-place match, Hakan Şükür scored what was then the fastest goal in World Cup history (around 11 seconds). 2026 ends a 24-year absence.
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1954
World Cup debut — group-stage exit
Qualified dramatically via a drawing of lots after a play-off with Spain; exited the group stage but recorded a 7–0 win over South Korea.
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2002
Third place — and the fastest goal in World Cup history
Reached the semifinals at the South Korea/Japan World Cup before losing 1–0 to Brazil; beat South Korea 3–2 in the third-place match. Hakan Şükür scored what was then the fastest goal in World Cup history (around 11 seconds).
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2026
Return after a 24-year absence
Türkiye return under Vincenzo Montella, qualifying through the UEFA play-offs on 31 March 2026 — their third World Cup ever.
Third place in only their second appearance — and the fastest goal in World Cup history
Third-place finish in only their second World Cup appearance
Türkiye’s third-place finish in 2002 came on only their second-ever World Cup appearance.
Hakan Şükür — fastest World Cup goal (about 11 seconds)
Hakan Şükür scored the fastest goal in World Cup history (about 11 seconds) in the 2002 third-place match.
1954 qualification decided by the drawing of lots
In 1954, Türkiye qualified by the drawing of lots after a play-off with Spain.
2026 is Türkiye’s first World Cup in 24 years
2026 is Türkiye’s first World Cup in 24 years.
Güler and Yıldız in IFFHS world young-player selections
Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız both featured in IFFHS world young-player selections.
Çalhanoğlu — one of football’s elite dead-ball specialists
Captain Çalhanoğlu is renowned as one of football’s elite dead-ball specialists.
Coach Montella was a former star striker
Italian coach Vincenzo Montella, a former star striker, leads the side.
Two of the most exciting young attackers in world football — and a 24-year wait finally over.
- Two of the most exciting young attackers in world football in Güler and Yıldız.
- A 24-year wait fueling passionate, emotional support.
- An attacking, watchable style under Montella.
- A proud World Cup legacy and genuine dark-horse potential.
Dark horse of Group D — knockout rounds the expectation, with a deeper run not far-fetched.
Türkiye are the dark horse of Group D and have the attacking quality to top the group or finish a strong second. Reaching the knockout rounds should be the expectation, and with Güler and Yıldız in form, a deeper run is not far-fetched. Their ceiling is among the highest in the group; the main question is whether the defense holds up against elite opposition.
