Vincenzo Montella named Türkiye’s final 26-man World Cup squad on June 2, 2026, sealing the nation’s return to the tournament after a 24-year wait. Hakan Çalhanoğlu captains the side. Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Juventus winger Kenan Yıldız lead a young attack that has Türkiye dreaming again. The Crescent-Stars last appeared in 2002, when they finished third.
The Türkiye World Cup Squad 2026 mixes that fresh talent with a hardened spine. Çalhanoğlu anchors midfield from Inter Milan, Merih Demiral marshals the defence, and 15 players come from the Turkish Süper Lig. Türkiye sit 22nd in the April 2026 FIFA ranking. This is their third World Cup, and they land in Group D with hosts the United States, Paraguay, and Australia.
This is your full Türkiye squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Türkiye 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Uğurcan Çakır | Galatasaray | 30 |
| GK | Mert Günok | Beşiktaş | 37 |
| GK | Altay Bayındır | Manchester United (England) | 28 |
| DF | Zeki Çelik | Roma (Italy) | 29 |
| DF | Merih Demiral | Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) | 28 |
| DF | Çağlar Söyüncü | Fenerbahçe | 30 |
| DF | Ozan Kabak | Hoffenheim (Germany) | 26 |
| DF | Abdülkerim Bardakcı | Galatasaray | 31 |
| DF | Mert Müldür | Fenerbahçe | 27 |
| DF | Ferdi Kadıoğlu | Brighton & Hove Albion (England) | 26 |
| DF | Eren Elmalı | Galatasaray | 25 |
| DF | Samet Akaydın | Çaykur Rizespor | 32 |
| MF | Hakan Çalhanoğlu (C) | Inter Milan (Italy) | 32 |
| MF | Kaan Ayhan | Galatasaray | 31 |
| MF | Salih Özcan | Borussia Dortmund (Germany) | 28 |
| MF | İsmail Yüksek | Fenerbahçe | 27 |
| MF | Orkun Kökçü | Beşiktaş | 25 |
| FW | Arda Güler | Real Madrid (Spain) | 21 |
| FW | Kenan Yıldız | Juventus (Italy) | 21 |
| FW | Kerem Aktürkoğlu | Fenerbahçe | 27 |
| FW | Barış Alper Yılmaz | Galatasaray | 26 |
| FW | İrfan Can Kahveci | Fenerbahçe | 30 |
| FW | Yunus Akgün | Galatasaray | 25 |
| FW | Oğuz Aydın | Fenerbahçe | 25 |
| FW | Can Uzun | Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) | 20 |
| FW | Deniz Gül | Porto (Portugal) | 21 |
(C) = captain. Squad as confirmed by the Turkish Football Federation on June 2, 2026. Ages are as of June 11, 2026.
For all 48 teams’ rosters, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here’s a breakdown of the key numbers behind Montella’s Türkiye World Cup Squad 2026.
- Average age: 27.2 years
- Most-capped player: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (more than 100 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (22 international goals), ahead of Kerem Aktürkoğlu (14)
- Premier League players: 2 (Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Altay Bayındır)
- Süper Lig players: 15 (six each from Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, plus Beşiktaş and Rizespor names)
- Youngest player: Can Uzun (20)
- Oldest player: Mert Günok (37)
Key Players to Watch
Arda Güler | Real Madrid
Güler is the jewel of this generation and the player opponents fear most. The 21-year-old playmaker pulls strings from the right or through the middle, and his left foot can unlock any defence. He set up the winning goal in the playoff semifinal against Romania. He also lit up Euro 2024 with a stunner against Georgia. Montella builds the attack to put the ball at his feet.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (C) | Inter Milan
Çalhanoğlu is the captain and the metronome. He has passed 100 caps and leads the squad with 22 international goals. From deep he sets the tempo, hits set pieces, and shields the back line. His calm under pressure steadied Türkiye through a tense qualifying run. Everything flows through him.
Kenan Yıldız | Juventus
Yıldız has grown into one of Europe’s brightest young forwards at Juventus. The 21-year-old drifts in from the left, runs at defenders, and finishes with either foot. He gives Türkiye a second match-winner alongside Güler. Defenders cannot double up on one without freeing the other.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu | Fenerbahçe
Aktürkoğlu is the emotional spark of this team. He scored the 1-0 winner against Kosovo that sent Türkiye to the World Cup. The winger presses hard, carries the ball in transition, and chips in with goals. His directness stretches tired defences late in games.
Merih Demiral | Al-Ahli
Demiral is the defensive anchor. The centre-back wins his aerial duels, throws his body in front of shots, and brings real tournament experience. He was a goal threat at Euro 2024, scoring twice against Austria. Türkiye need his leadership to hold a young back line together.
Can Uzun | Eintracht Frankfurt
Uzun is the breakout name at just 20. The forward adapted fast to Bundesliga football and offers movement and finishing off the bench or in a starting role. He represents Türkiye’s deep pool of young attackers. His minutes could rise the longer the tournament runs.
Türkiye World Cup 2026 Schedule
Türkiye play all three group matches in the western United States and Canada. Kick-off times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and Turkey Time (TRT) for fans watching at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (TRT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2026 | vs Australia | Vancouver Stadium (BC Place), Vancouver | 12:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Jun 19, 2026 | vs Paraguay | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa Clara | 12:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Jun 25, 2026 | vs United States | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood | 10:00 PM | 5:00 AM (Jun 26) |
All kick-off times follow the official FIFA match schedule, confirmed from the December 5, 2025 group draw. Türkiye opened their warm-up campaign with a 4-0 win over North Macedonia in Istanbul on June 1, then flew to Fort Lauderdale to base their camp. A second friendly against Venezuela follows on June 7.
The home match against the United States closes the group on June 25, a late-night start for Turkish fans. See the full 2026 World Cup schedule for every knockout-stage fixture and time.
How Türkiye Qualified for World Cup 2026
Türkiye finished second in UEFA qualifying Group E, one place behind Spain. They took four wins, one draw, and one loss from six games. The only defeats came against the Spanish, who beat them 6-0 in Konya before a 2-2 draw in Seville sealed the runner-up spot. Second place sent Türkiye into the March playoffs.
The wins still flowed against the rest. Türkiye beat Georgia twice, including a 4-1 home result, and thrashed Bulgaria 6-1 away and 2-0 at home. Those goals mattered. They kept Türkiye clear of the chasing pack and locked in the playoff route through UEFA qualifying.
Montella’s side then beat Romania 1-0 in the playoff semifinal in Istanbul, with Ferdi Kadıoğlu scoring from a Güler assist. They faced Kosovo away in the final. Kerem Aktürkoğlu settled it with a 54th-minute strike in Pristina on March 31, 2026. The 1-0 win made Türkiye the 44th nation to reach the World Cup and ended a 24-year absence.
Head Coach: Vincenzo Montella
Vincenzo Montella is 51 years old and has led Türkiye since September 2023. The Italian was a sharp striker in his playing days, best remembered for his goals at Roma. As a coach he has managed AC Milan, Sevilla, Fiorentina, and Adana Demirspor before taking the national job.
His standing comes from Euro 2024. Montella guided Türkiye to the quarterfinals there, knocking out Austria along the way before a narrow loss to the Netherlands. He favours an attacking 4-2-3-1, trusts his creative players to take risks, and shifts shape when a game demands more control. The young core has bought into his bold approach.
Montella leans on Çalhanoğlu as his on-field leader and pairs the captain with energetic runners in midfield. His first-choice attack is built around Güler and Yıldız, with Aktürkoğlu and Barış Alper Yılmaz stretching defences wide. Demiral and Çakır give the spine its experience.
Group D at a Glance
Türkiye are in Group D. Here’s where each team stands going into the tournament.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | WC Appearances (pre-2026) | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 16th | 11 (1930-2022) | Third place (1930) |
| Australia | 27th | 6 (1974-2022) | Round of 16 (2006, 2022) |
| Türkiye | 22nd | 2 (1954, 2002) | Third place (2002) |
| Paraguay | 40th | 8 (1930-2010) | Quarterfinals (2010) |
FIFA rankings are from the April 2026 update. WC appearances are pre-2026 figures only.
Group D is wide open, and Türkiye can target second place behind the hosts. The United States carry home advantage and crowd support in Los Angeles. Paraguay are stubborn and defend deep, while Australia run hard and never make it easy. Türkiye have the most flair in the group, but they must defend better than they did against Spain. For the full breakdown, check the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Türkiye World Cup Squad 2026
What is Türkiye’s nickname?
Türkiye’s national team is known as Ay-Yıldızlılar, meaning the Crescent-Stars, after the crescent and star on the national flag. Fans at home also call them Bizim Çocuklar, which translates as Our Boys. Both names have followed the team for decades.
When did Türkiye last play at a World Cup?
Türkiye last appeared at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, where they finished third. The 2026 tournament ends a 24-year absence. It is only their third World Cup appearance overall, after 1954 and 2002.
What kit does Türkiye wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Türkiye wear a red home shirt carrying the white crescent and star, paired with white shorts. The look mirrors the national flag and has defined the team for generations. The change kit is a mostly white design with red trim.
Has Türkiye ever beaten the United States before?
Yes, Türkiye beat the United States 2-1 in a June 2025 friendly in East Hartford. The two sides have met several times in friendlies over the years. The June 25 group finale in Los Angeles is their first competitive meeting.
How old is Arda Güler at the 2026 World Cup?
Arda Güler is 21 years old during the tournament, having been born in February 2005. The Real Madrid playmaker is already a senior international with more than 25 caps. He is one of the youngest stars expected to start in the group stage.
Türkiye’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Türkiye World Cup Squad 2026 is young, fearless, and packed with attacking quality. Güler and Yıldız give Montella two players who can win a game alone, and Çalhanoğlu offers control and leadership in the middle. The defence is the question mark, but Demiral and Çakır bring the experience to hold it together. This is a team built to entertain.
Türkiye are expected to fight for a top-two finish and the knockout rounds. Reaching the Round of 16 would already mark progress for a returning nation. On their day, with Güler and Yıldız flowing, this side could trouble far bigger names. They need their young stars firing and their back line calm to make a real run.
