Turkey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ay-Yıldızlılar compete in Group K at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Vincenzo Montella, captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu. UEFA qualifier.
Turkey's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Sitting at FIFA #25, Turkey are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
Turkey is the highest-ranked side in Group K (avg. opponent rank #69). They are expected to top the group, but Belgium and Ghana are realistic challengers.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for Turkey: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group K is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first Turkey match of the World Cup is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 against Solomon Islands at Gillette Stadium.
Group K draw analysis
FIFA Ranking, confederation, and last-appearance finish for every team Turkey face in Group K.
| Team | FIFA Rank | Confederation |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey (this page) | #25 | UEFA |
| Belgium | #8 | UEFA |
| Ghana | #70 | CAF |
| Solomon Islands | #130 | OFC |
Turkey 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
Turkey World Cup history
Turkey have appeared at 3 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains 3rd place (2002). Across the last five tournaments they recorded: DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, including 5 occasions when they failed to qualify.
Get Turkey data via API
// Fetch Turkey World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=turkey',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is Turkey in at the 2026 World Cup?
Turkey is in Group K alongside Belgium, Ghana, Solomon Islands. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group K is #69.
Who is Turkey's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Vincenzo Montella manages Turkey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Hakan Çalhanoğlu as captain.
What is Turkey's best World Cup finish?
Turkey's best FIFA World Cup finish is 3rd place (2002). They have appeared in 3 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ.
Who are Turkey's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu leads a squad whose standout names include Arda Güler, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Kenan Yıldız. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did Turkey qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
UEFA qualifier. They came through the UEFA qualifying pathway.
What is Turkey's current FIFA Ranking?
Turkey are ranked #25 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Sitting at FIFA #25, Turkey are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
What are Turkey's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
Turkey is the highest-ranked side in Group K (avg. opponent rank #69). They are expected to top the group, but Belgium and Ghana are realistic challengers. Sitting at FIFA #25, Turkey are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
How can I get Turkey fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all Turkey World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for Turkey going back to their first tournament.
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