World Cup 2026: Turks End 24-Year Hiatus

Australia vs Turkiye

We are told they are one of their nation’s strongest ever sides, so what better time to see for ourselves as a World Cup 2026 looms.

I was rather stunned earlier this week when I read this is actually the first time since 2002 that Turkey have been playing on the biggest football show globally.

That year they stunned the world and finished third in the tournament, when the names of Hakan Sukur, the formidable striker who netted the fastest goal in World Cup history, dynamic playmaker Emre Belözoğlu, the creative Yıldıray Baştürk and goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber became household names.

The question now then is, what do their class of 2026 have to offer?

Talking Points

As they go in search of World Cup 2026 highlights, there are certainly players capable of delivering them.

The last time Turkey made it to the World Cup, Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz were not even born.

Yet here they are thriving under the management of Vincenzo Montella who has guided the national team to back-to-back international tournaments (they reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024).

Turkey lost one game in their qualifying campaign – against Spain, the reigning European champions – picking up 13 out of 18 points and that should come no as surprise given they have a strong foundation with goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, a title winner with Galatasaray, the last line of a defence which also features centre back Merih Demiral.

My admiration for influential captain Hakan Calhanoglu, who has just won the league and cup double with Inter Milan, is clear and it’s reported he plays the deep-lying playmaker role for his country.

If there is a question mark, it may be that the Turks lack a prolific frontman although Guler and Yildiz, fresh from 11 goals and 10 assists for Juventus in the season just finished (and three goals in qualifying) can ease that burden.

Turkey warmed up for the tournament with a comprehensive victory over North Macedonia before a narrow win against Venezuela.

And what of Australia, 27^th in the FIFA world rankings (Turkey are 22^nd), the affectionately named Socceroos?

Australia head into World Cup 2026 with confidence after qualification and a youthful core — Australia manager Tony Popovic during the FIFA Series 2026 match against Curacao at AAMI Park

The Guardian reports that they combine a new crop of eye-catching attacking talents alongside a more experienced midfield and defensive core. Qualification for a sixth consecutive World Cup was sealed without needing to tread carefully through the play-offs for the first time since 2014, but only after a change of direction when Tony Popovic replaced Graham Arnold as the head coach.

After reaching the last 16 for the second time, in 2022, the hope is that the Socceroos can now win a first knockout game.

Among their men to watch out for is regular goal-getter Mohamed Touré, 20 year-old attacker Nestory Irankunda and, fresh from a Dutch title win in his first season with Feyenoord, exciting winger Jordan Bos. The Aussies love him!

A 1-1 friendly draw with Switzerland last weekend, in which Tete Yengi scored on his debut, offered encouraging signs for Popovic and built on a similar performance in a narrow loss to Mexico.

Now for the real McCoy with the US and Paraguay to come in Group D.

History

These two nations have only met on two occasions and both were friendlies within the space of four days of each other.

That was in May 2004 and Turkey won both encounters.

A second half brace from one of their favourite sons, Sukur, fired the Turks to a 3-1 success after Umit Ozat and Mark Bresciano (penalty) had traded goals.

Then in Melbourne a few days later, Nihat Kahveci scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time.