Kerem Aktürkoğlu the hero - Türkiye qualify for FIFA World Cup to end 24 years of pain

Türkiye is home to some of the most passionate supporters on the planet and they will be celebrating all across the nation after securing qualification to the 2026 World Cup. Türkiye defeated Kosovo 1-0 away from home in the hostile Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina to end 24 years of pain by returning to the most prestigious international tournament. Türkiye were overwhelming favourites to win the play-off final as they were 55 places above Kosovo in the world rankings but they had to battle hard to secure the famous win.

Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız are Türkiye’s leading stars but Kerem Aktürkoğlu was the hero, scoring the only goal of the game eight minutes into the second half. Fenerbahce attacker Aktürkoğlu - who previously played for Galatasaray - tapped home from close range to secure his country’s place at the World Cup. Türkiye famously finished third in their last World Cup - in Japan and Korea in 2002 - and we’ve spoken to Lara Karacan, Area Manager for Türkiye at Transfermarkt, to discover why this group has succeeded where other squads failed.

The key stars behind Türkiye's World Cup qualification

There is currently a strong sense of euphoria in Türkiye. Many believe this is the best squad the country has had in years, with numerous players performing at the highest international level and playing key roles for their clubs. Leading the way is Güler, with a market value of around €90 million, making him the most valuable Turkish player of all time, showcasing his exceptional talent at Real Madrid. Yıldız is also fueling optimism: he wears the number 10 at Juventus and, despite his young age, has established himself as one of the faces of a European top club.

In addition, players like Kadıoğlu, who is consistently impressing at Brighton in the Premier League and goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, who has recently demonstrated his top form on the international stage, add to the excitement. With Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the team also has an experienced strategist from Inter. These are just some of the players in top form at their clubs, strengthening the belief that this squad can qualify for the World Cup 2026.