Türkiye primed to end 24-year World Cup absence

• Türkiye defeated Romania 1-0 in their UEFA play-off semi-final

• Montella's men will travel to Kosovo for Path C final on Tuesday

• The Turks have not competed in a World Cup finals since 2002

Türkiye and their enthusiastic fanbase are just one step away from returning to football’s biggest stage after a 24-year wait.

Following a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Romania in the Path C semi-finals of the European play-offs for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Vincenzo Montella’s side qualified for the final against Kosovo and can continue to dream of a first appearance at the global finals since finishing third in 2002.

The intense semi-final encounter against Romania was settled by one decisive moment. After the first half ended goalless, Türkiye broke through the Romanian back line in the 53rd minute as playmaker Arda Guler lofted a pinpoint pass deep into the penalty area to find left-back Ferdi Kadioglu, who controlled and slotted home the only goal of the match.

It was a spectacular move which, as Guler later explained to Turkish broadcaster TV8, was anything but an accident: “We discussed the goal at half-time. Ferdi said he would make runs into the penalty area as soon as I receive the ball. And that’s what he did. It happened exactly as we had planned.”

Having taken the lead, Türkiye tightened their grip on the game and further opportunities followed on the counter. Kenan Yildiz narrowly missed sealing the victory when his shot hit the crossbar in the 61st minute. In the final stages, Romania tried in vain to break down a stubborn Turkish defence, with Nicolae Stancius also hitting the woodwork in the 77th minute.

Türkiye’s ability to remain calm even in tight matches is largely down to Montella. The Italian coach seemed duly satisfied after the game: “I’m very proud of my team’s performance. We knew that we needed to stay calm and that this was likely to be a low-scoring game.”

Reaching the final has only increased the confidence and optimism in the Turkish camp. At the final whistle, the Turks were still unsure whether they would be facing Slovakia or Kosovo in the deciding match, but for captain Hakan Calhanoglu it was irrelevant: “It doesn’t matter who we play. We have a young, dynamic team where everyone does their job. We’re just focusing on ourselves.”

A few hours later, Kosovo were confirmed as Türkiye’s final opponents for the coveted World Cup ticket. They are also a team playing with plenty of self-confidence and – with a first World Cup appearance in the country’s history at stake – they will also be hoping to make headlines of their own.

Once again, Türkiye will need to strike the balance between control and efficiency on the night. Yildiz knows what is required: “We need to prepare well for the final. I’m proud of this team and this is a very strong generation. We haven’t been to a World Cup for 24 years; we shouldn’t put any extra pressure on ourselves.”

The victory over Romania was an important step. And a statement of intent. Türkiye have shown that they are capable of turning close matches in their favour by keeping their structure, staying patient and showing individual quality. These are qualities that have often been lacking in previous World Cup qualifying campaigns, most recently four years ago when they were knocked out by Portugal in the play-off semi-finals.

Now they have another chance. Victory in Pristina is all that stands between Türkiye and their first World Cup appearance for more than two decades. It’s a match that could be a defining moment for an entire generation.

“We also want to win the next match,” said Guler. “The World Cup is our ultimate goal and we will give everything to get there.” For Calhanoglu, the possibility of qualifying holds special significance: “My only objective is to play in a World Cup as captain. Right now, the only thing missing for me is a World Cup appearance with this team. I hope we can get there.”

Together with Yildiz and Co, the team looks ready to continue the legacy of players like Hakan Sukur, Yildiray Basturk and Umit Davala. Türkiye’s World Cup dream is alive and feels closer than it has for years.