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Türkiye will return to the World Cup after a 24-year absence with one of its strongest modern squads, as coach Vincenzo Montella builds a young but balanced team around Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler and Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz.
The national team, known as the Crescent Stars, reached the tournament after a tense playoff route in which it eliminated Romania and Kosovo.
Montella’s side had already carried momentum from Euro 2024, and the core of that team now heads into the World Cup with more experience, greater cohesion and higher expectations.
Montella has led Türkiye since 2023 and has been widely credited with bringing harmony to a team that has often struggled with internal tension in past eras. The Italian coach has settled into the national setup and has spoken about the cultural connection he feels with the country.
“Turkish culture is very close to that of the place where I spent my childhood. I was born and raised near Naples,” Montella said.
His preferred system is a 4-2-3-1, although he has shown flexibility when needed. More importantly, he has managed to hold together a squad that blends experienced names with emerging stars.
After Türkiye’s playoff win over Kosovo, Montella underlined the commitment of his players, saying: “I wouldn’t trade these players for anyone. They have shown they can make sacrifices.”
Arda Guler, now 21, will carry much of Türkiye’s creative responsibility at the World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder has moved on from being seen only as a prodigy and has become the main attacking force of the national team.
Guler is viewed as a player who can open up matches with his passing, vision and ability to score from midfield. Thierry Henry has described him as “an undisputed, elite world-class talent,” a quote that reflects the scale of expectation surrounding him.
Alongside him, Kenan Yildiz has become one of Türkiye’s most important attacking outlets. The Juventus forward, whose surname means “star” in Turkish, combines technical quality with physical strength and can take on defenders directly.
Yildiz scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists for Juventus last season, while also scoring three times in World Cup qualifying for Türkiye. His form gives Montella another major attacking option, especially while the team continues to search for a clear first-choice striker.
Türkiye’s squad is young, but its main structure is familiar. Ugurcan Cakir is expected to provide stability in goal after lifting the league title with Galatasaray, while Abdulkerim Bardakci and Merih Demiral offer a settled central defensive pairing.
At right-back, Ferdi Kadioglu comes into the tournament after an impressive season with Brighton. In midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu now plays the role of senior leader and deep-lying playmaker, giving Türkiye control and experience in the center of the pitch.
Orkun Kokcu could also play an important role after a strong season with Besiktas. His move from Benfica initially appeared surprising, but he later explained that playing for the Black Eagles had been a childhood dream. He went on to score 10 goals and provide nine assists in all competitions, strong numbers for a central midfielder.
Despite the depth and quality across much of the squad, Türkiye still lacks a proven No. 9. Montella has several options, including Eintracht Frankfurt’s Can Uzun, but the position remains open.
That uncertainty means Türkiye may rely heavily on the creativity of Guler, the direct threat of Yildiz and the midfield influence of Calhanoglu and Kokcu. The team enters the World Cup with enough talent to trouble opponents, but also with the unpredictability that has long shaped Turkish football.
Türkiye will also be backed by its diaspora in the United States, where estimates put the Turkish community between 250,000 and 500,000 people.
Even so, Türkiye supporters are expected to bring visible color to the stands, with flags likely to be far more common than flares.
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