The Turkish national football team has officially released its 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Turkey’s national team confirmed the list of players for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The announcement was made through the team’s official Instagram account on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Head coach Vincenzo Montella has selected his 26 best players to compete in this edition of the tournament.

Turkey’s biggest strength lies in the depth of its roster, featuring players who play in top European leagues.

With a blend of experienced veterans and promising young talents, the Ay-Yıldızlılar are heading to North America with what many are calling their golden generation.

The three main pillars expected to drive Turkey’s attack are Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), and Arda Guler (Real Madrid).

These three players are expected to be the backbone of the Turkish team at the 2026 World Cup.

However, Turkey’s path to the final tournament was far from easy.

Competing in Group E during the first round of the European qualifiers, Turkey faced tough competition from Spain, Bulgaria, and Georgia.

They collected only 13 points from six matches, finishing as runners-up in Group E behind Spain, forcing them to go through the tense playoff stage.

In the playoffs, Turkey’s mental strength was put to the test.

In the semi-finals, they faced Romania in a tight and intense match, ultimately winning 1–0 to advance to the final.

In the playoff final, Turkey secured another 1–0 victory over Kosovo, sealing their qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

This marks Turkey’s first appearance at the World Cup since 2002.

For the 2026 World Cup, Turkey has been placed in a relatively balanced Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay, and Australia.

Official Turkey National Team Squad for the 2026 World Cup:

Goalkeepers

Mert Gunok, Altay Bayindir, Ugurcan Cakir

Defenders

Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Caglar Soyuncu, Eren Elmali, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ozan Kabak, Mert Muldur, Ferdi Kadioglu, Samet Akaydin

Midfielders

Salih Ozcan, Orkun Kokcu, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ismail Yuksek, Kaan Ayhan

Forwards

Kerem Akturkoglu, Arda Guler, Deniz Gul, Kenan Yildiz, Irfan Can Kahveci, Yunus Akgun, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Oguz Aydin, Can Uzun