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Türkiye head coach Vincenzo Montella made a light-hearted reference to his time in Adana after the national team arrived in Arizona for their main training camp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the extreme heat may be easier for him to handle because of his past experience in southern Türkiye.
The Turkish national football team, known as the Crescent-Stars, reached the U.S. state of Arizona as they moved into the final stage of their preparations for the tournament.
Speaking after the team plane landed, Montella said Türkiye had entered the last week before the World Cup and that the squad was eager to get started.
Montella pointed out that Türkiye would need to adapt quickly to Arizona’s weather conditions, where temperatures have risen above 40 degrees Celsius.
Referring to his spell as head coach of Adana Demirspor, a football club based in the southern Turkish city of Adana, Montella said: “We need to adapt to the heat and weather conditions here. I am lucky because I have seen the heat in Adana.”
His remark added a humorous note to the team’s arrival, while also underlining one of the first practical challenges facing the squad during its U.S. camp.
Türkiye will face Australia in their opening group-stage match, and Montella said the technical staff had already stepped up preparations for the game.
He said the team had not left the travel period unused, adding that he watched match footage during the flight. Montella also noted that Türkiye’s staff had been going over Australia’s recent matches in detail as part of their tactical planning.
With the World Cup approaching, Türkiye’s camp in Arizona is expected to focus on both physical adaptation and match preparation as the national team looks to settle in before its first test.
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