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In a display of hospitality that transcended national rivalries, a restaurant owner in Kocaeli refused payment from Georgian journalists and served them complimentary food and tea on the eve of Tuesday's crucial World Cup qualifying match between Türkiye and Georgia.
The incident occurred Tuesday at a fast-food establishment in Kocaeli, where several journalists from Georgian sports outlet 90min were dining while covering the match. Wearing Georgian national team jerseys, the reporters were approached by the owner, who asked if they were from Georgia.
Upon confirmation, the owner insisted the meal was on him and brought additional Turkish tea and traditional desserts at no charge.
"This is all for Davit Skhirtladze," the owner told the journalists, referring to the Georgian footballer who previously played in the Turkish league for Kocaelispor. "He played here, and I respect him so much."
One of the 90min journalists described the moment as unexpectedly moving in an account shared with Türkiye Today. "It hit me in the heart because Davit is a player I've always admired — there was a sweet, unexpected connection in that moment, bridging two countries through football," the journalist said.
The owner went further, playing Georgian music in his restaurant as the journalists ate. The journalist recounted the experience: "In the middle of a Turkish city, far from home, hearing the familiar sounds of your country, while being treated with such kindness."
The journalist added: "In that moment, I felt beautiful — not just on the outside, but in that deep, quiet way when you're seen, respected, and welcomed as you are. The sun was shining, the food tasted better than it should have, and I felt proud to be Georgian."
The gesture comes as both nations prepare for what has been characterized as a "final" in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers. The match carries significant weight for both teams' hopes of advancing to football's premier tournament.
The match, scheduled for 9:45 p.m. local time at Kocaeli Stadium, carries significant implications for both teams' World Cup aspirations. Türkiye has not qualified for football's premier tournament in recent cycles, while Georgia is also seeking advancement in the competitive European qualifying rounds.
At a pre-match press conference Monday, Turkish national team coach Vincenzo Montella emphasized the difficulty of the contest. "We will face a team that is developing incredibly well," Montella said. "We've prepared for different scenarios. We want to reach our World Cup goal with our ambition and belief. Every match in the group is difficult."
The Italian coach said his team had prepared for various scenarios in the match, acknowledging uncertainty about whether Georgia would apply pressure from the opening whistle or in the final minutes. "We know how tough an opponent they are. We won't forget that," Montella said.
Turkish national team player Kerem Akturkoglu echoed his coach's assessment of the match's importance. "Both teams know the importance of the match very well, we see it as a final match," Akturkoglu said. "It's a very important and meaningful match that can determine the results in the group. We are aware that if we win, our play-off chances will be much greater."
Akturkoglu, a Kocaeli native, expressed particular excitement about playing in his hometown. "My city, my hometown—I watched many matches here," he said. "Of course, playing in my own hometown is a great happiness."
The player said he and teammate Merih Demiral had lobbied in previous years to play a match in Kocaeli, adding that Tuesday's game will be the first official match for the national team in the city. "Kocaeli is a complete football city," Akturkoglu said. "I think a friendly match was played for the national team, this will be the first official match. It will be a very important and meaningful match for both Kocaeli and us."
The Turkish Football Federation announced Monday that all ticket revenue from Tuesday's qualifier will be donated to the people of Gaza. The federation described the ongoing situation there as a "humanitarian tragedy" and called the events a "genocide occurring before the eyes of the entire world."
"We condemn this genocide once again and invite all our supporters to support our team with one voice and one heart," the federation said in a statement posted on its website.
Asked about the donation during the press conference, Montella said: "Everything done in the name of humanity deserves appreciation. We live in such a time that we can watch the deaths of innocent people. That's why we have to do everything we can."
Akturkoglu, who learned of the decision at the press conference, expressed support for the gesture. "My stance and feelings on this issue have been clear from the beginning. I didn't know, I learned here, thank you very much to both our president and our federation," he said. "We need to do something without discriminating between people, this will be a start, hopefully we can bring it to an end."
The player also addressed recent speculation about discord within the team, dismissing any notion of problems among players. "The atmosphere in the national team, the planning, everything is very good, the friendship is very good, there are no problems," Akturkoglu said. "Time to time such things can come out, but we have no problems with each other. There is a nice atmosphere in the team, and this is reflected on the field as a result."
Regarding his role playing as a forward rather than on the wing, Akturkoglu said he was content with the coach's decision. "If I'm going to help the team, I'll play in defense too. What matters is the flag, the position doesn't matter," he said. Since Montella took over, he noted, he has contributed 10 goals and 2 assists while playing as a forward.
Montella also expressed enthusiasm about playing in Kocaeli, noting the city's passionate football culture. "Last week I watched a match here, I can imagine how warm the atmosphere can be. We are looking forward to tomorrow," the coach said. "I hope we will have more matches in the future. It will be a very special night for two of our players."
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