The 2026 World Cup hasn’t even kicked off for Türkiye yet, and the team is already dealing with a self-inflicted crisis. A video circulating since June 13 appears to show center-back Çağlar Söyüncü smoking on a hotel balcony in Vancouver, where the squad is based ahead of its opening match against Australia.
Two other unidentified squad members are also reportedly visible in the footage. The clip has torn through Turkish social media, and the reaction from fans has been roughly as forgiving as you’d expect: not at all.
What the video shows and why it matters
The footage, which surfaced just days before Türkiye’s World Cup opener, reportedly captures Söyüncü and two teammates on what appears to be a hotel balcony. The 30-year-old Fenerbahçe defender, who has earned 60 international caps, was widely expected to be in the starting lineup under head coach Vincenzo Montella.
Turkish fans have been vocal in calling for disciplinary action. The backlash on social media has ranged from disappointment to outright fury, with many supporters questioning whether players caught in the video should be available for selection at all. The Turkish Football Federation has not publicly commented on what, if any, internal response is being considered.
