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The Turkish National Football Team will take on Romania today in the semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers playoffs.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 p.m. local time at Besiktas Park in Istanbul.
The winner of this fixture will advance to the play-off final on 31 March, where they will meet the victor of the Slovakia vs. Kosovo semi-final, with the winner securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match will be refereed by Francois Letexier from the French Football Federation, with Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni serving as assistant referees, and Benoit Bastien acting as the fourth official.
Speaking at yesterday’s press conference at the Hasan Dogan National Teams Camp and Training Facility, head coach Vincenzo Montella expressed confidence in his players’ ability to handle the high-stakes match.
‘We know our players can handle pressure, and our goal is to achieve a positive result,’ Montella said. 'Tomorrow, a complete team will take the field, ready for every situation. We want to play our football and show unity in difficult moments, just as we always do. We will give everything to get the result we want.’
The coach also spoke about the importance of the match not just for the team but for the nation.
“This match is not only important for us but also for our country. The wait for the World Cup continues, and we want to end this drought.
We prepare our players to perform at their best without burdening them with pressure. They are fully capable of handling any challenge. Tomorrow, we hope to achieve a good result and make everyone proud,” Montella said.
Young star Arda Guler spoke to the press at the same facility, expressing his desire to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Our goal is to reach the World Cup. Romania is a strong team with legendary players like Gheorghe Hagi and a coach who knows Turkish football well. We hope to make our fans and our country proud,” Guler said.
He added regarding Hagi: “We have great respect for him. I’ve watched his videos. Tomorrow, we hope for a good match. It will be very difficult, and the Romanian players will do everything they can to qualify, so we expect a tough game.”
On Türkiye’s chances: “It won’t be an easy match. For them, it’s a crucial game too. There are no favorites in a single match. Everyone will give their all.”
Türkiye enters the match with some injury uncertainties. Merih Demiral and Zeki Celik are currently listed as doubtful, with final decisions expected following medical assessments.
Aral Simsir, previously included in the squad, has been withdrawn due to injury.
The provisional Turkish squad features:
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Romania, managed by Mircea Lucescu, has named a squad that includes key players such as Ianis Hagi (Corendon Alanyaspor), Dennis Man (PSV), Razvan Marin (AEK Athens), and Florin Tanase (FCSB).
The team secured its place in the play-offs through performances in the UEFA Nations League and qualifying group stages.
Türkiye and Romania have a long-standing football rivalry. The two nations have faced each other 26 times, including 10 official matches, with Romania winning 14, Türkiye winning 5, and 7 matches ending in draws. Romania has scored 49 goals in these encounters, while Türkiye has found the net 24 times.
The first match in Türkiye’s football history was also against Romania on 26 October 1923, ending in a 2-2 draw at Istanbul’s Taksim Stadium.
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Set as preferred source
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