Turkey qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Kosovo 1-0 in their playoff final, ending a 24-year absence from football’s biggest stage.
Forward Kerem Akturkoglu scored the decisive goal in the 53rd minute, finishing from close range after Orkun Kokcu’s shot, which followed a driving run by Kenan Yildiz down the left.
“Thank God. It has been 24 years. Some of us were not even born the last time we qualified, and some were too young to remember. We always dreamed of moments like this,” Akturkoglu told Turkish TV.
He further said the team had often spoken about Turkey’s success in 2002 and dreamed of repeating it, even though many of the players do not remember it. He added that the team now want to give the next generation something to dream about at the 2026 World Cup and make their country proud.
Turkey, ranked 25th in the world, had fallen short in qualifying campaigns over the past two decades and came into the playoffs under pressure. Head coach Vincenzo Montella led a squad combining emerging talent with experienced internationals.
“Emotionally I am at the top. I am incredibly proud,” Montella told Turkish state news agency Anadolu. He said he would not change anything about the team, adding that coaching at the World Cup is a dream for anyone in his position and that the squad had achieved its goal.
He also described the moment as an incredible feeling that is difficult to put into words, calling the World Cup the pinnacle of football.
Fans across Turkey celebrated the victory, gathering in the streets, waving flags, and honking car horns late into the night.
For Kosovo, ranked 79th, the defeat ended a strong run that had brought them close to qualifying for their first major tournament, less than a decade after joining FIFA and UEFA.
Playing in front of a sold-out crowd, Kosovo pushed forward in the final minutes and created several chances but could not find a way past Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
Turkey will compete in Group D at the World Cup, where they are set to face Australia, Paraguay, and co-hosts the United States. Canada and Mexico will also host the tournament.
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