TURKEY ENTER WORLD CUP GROUP D WITH YOUNG SQUAD AND HIGH HOPES

Turkey enter the 2026 World Cup in Group D alongside Australia, Paraguay, and co-hosts the United States. Coach Vincenzo Montella has assembled one of the country's strongest squads in recent memory, built around a young core with significant top-level experience. The group contains two recognised stars in Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, both of whom feature in the midfield and attacking lines. Hakan Calhanoglu adds experience and is expected to control play in the middle of the pitch.

Guler, who plays his club football at Real Madrid, recovered from an injury scare in the weeks prior to the tournament and is fit for Turkey's opening fixture against Australia. Several members of the squad were not born when Turkey last qualified for the World Cup and finished third in 2002. Montella, who was born near Naples, has publicly embraced Turkish culture and stated he identifies fully with the country. The team's preparation period has been notably settled, with no reported internal disputes or tensions of the kind that have affected Turkey squads previously.

Turkey's primary strength lies in midfield and attack, and their approach is expected to centre on possession and controlling the tempo of matches. A shaky defence has been identified as a genuine concern heading into the group stage. Montella has previously avoided the "dark horses" label that has historically followed Turkish teams at major tournaments. A strong midfield unit places Turkey among the second tier of contenders, below established heavyweights such as Spain, France, and Argentina.