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Türkiye will visit Spain in the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group E, knowing that both teams have already secured a top-two finish.
The game will take place at La Cartuja Stadium in Sevilla today at 10:45 p.m. Türkiye time and will be broadcast live on TV8. German referee Felix Zwayer will officiate the match.
Spain sits at the top of Group E; Türkiye follows in second place. Although a seven-goal win is mathematically required for Türkiye to finish as group winners, the national team approaches the game mainly to test their level against Europe’s strongest squad and preserve confidence before the playoffs.
Spain is the reigning European champion and is currently ranked as the world’s number one team, holding a deep and balanced squad.
Türkiye’s head coach, Vincenzo Montella, underlined that the team did not come to Spain for a friendly atmosphere, stating that they want to win and will fight for it. He said the match represents a significant test where the team aims to show their own playing style with balanced and mentally focused football.
He added that every player dreams big and that nobody should believe Türkiye cannot win any match. According to Montella, his players feel ambitious, motivated, and hungry to compete with top-level opponents.
Montella explained that facing such teams provides a chance to measure Türkiye’s progress, especially after qualifying for the UEFA Nations League A division, which allows them to play at high standards more often.
He also commented on Arda Guler’s talent, describing him as a player with great mentality and potential, while praising Kenan Yildiz for his versatility and impact in attacking areas.
Türkiye will be without midfielder Ismail Yuksek due to suspension and captain Hakan Calhanoglu because of injury. Three players, namely Kenan Yildiz, Kerem Akturkoglu, and Oguz Aydin, will face suspension risk if they receive yellow cards, which could keep them out of the first playoff match.
Despite absences, defender Zeki Celik emphasized that the squad remains focused and knows that every player may contribute, as the World Cup requires at least twenty-five players.
He noted that they aim to get a good result in Spain to build momentum for the play-offs. He added that all efforts are now focused on securing a place at the World Cup.
Spain is expected to start with Unai Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Zubimendi, Merino, Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Baena and Oyarzabal.
Türkiye’s probable eleven include Ugurcan, Zeki, Merih, Caglar, Ferdi, Atakan, Orkun, Arda, Oguz, Kenan, and Baris Alper.
The two teams will meet for the thirteenth time. Türkiye’s only win over Spain came in Istanbul in 1954, during the World Cup qualifiers.
Since then, Spain has largely dominated the fixture, winning seven times and drawing four. Türkiye has scored only five goals and conceded twenty-three in total across official and friendly matches.
Türkiye progressed to the 1954 World Cup by eliminating Spain through a historical draw in Rome, followed by a tie-breaking lottery.
However, at the last meeting in Konya in 2025, Spain won 6-0. Türkiye’s last eight matches against Spain produced only one goal in their favor, highlighting the scale of the challenge in Sevilla.
Spain and Türkiye have already secured the top two positions in Group E, ahead of Georgia and Bulgaria.
Only the group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup. The remaining twenty-four teams, including group runners-up and UEFA Nations League contenders, will fight for the last four spots through playoffs in March 2026.
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