Türkiye’s return to the World Cup after 24 years is shaping into more than just a comeback story, with Australia defender Milos Degenek framing the Group D opener in Vancouver as a test of pressure, experience and expectation.
Türkiye arrive at the 2026 World Cup carrying both history and uncertainty.
Their last appearance in 2002 remains a national reference point, when Şenol Güneş led a disciplined, fearless side to a third-place finish, still the country’s deepest run on football’s biggest stage.
That tournament produced defining moments, including victories over Japan and Senegal and a tense semifinal shootout win over South Korea before a high-scoring win over the co-hosts secured bronze. Since then, World Cup qualification has been elusive, interrupted by near misses and long gaps that have only intensified the weight surrounding each new attempt.
The long wait ended through a demanding UEFA playoff campaign, where Türkiye battled through tight margins to secure their place in the 2026 edition hosted across North America. The achievement restored their presence among football’s elite, but it also reset expectations around a squad now judged less by qualification and more by what comes next.
