Can Türkiye still qualify for Round of 32 of FIFA World Cup 2026?

Türkiye lost both of their initial two games at the FIFA World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has been disastrous for Türkiye and their fans. They arrived at the FIFA World Cup as the dark horses. The football world had its eyes set on the Crescent-Stars. However, things took a dramatic turn when they arrived in North America for the summer tournament.

They lost both of their opening two games in the World Cup. The Crescent-Stars lost to Australia 2-0 in their opening game. Later, they came up short against Paraguay in a narrow 1-0 defeat.

Vincenzo Montella’s men have taken 62 shots but have not scored a single goal in the World Cup. They have dominated games in terms of possession and created numerous chances, but their conversion rate has been zero.

Thus, the question arises here. Can Türkiye still qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament if they defeat the USA in their final game of the group stage?

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Fixtures, Schedule, Results, Match Timings & Where to Watch

Can Türkiye still qualify for the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup has introduced many changes to the tournament’s format. Instead of 32 teams, the current edition features 48. Moreover, the ongoing World Cup campaign also has a Round of 32 stage, where eight third-placed teams, along with the top two from each group, will qualify.

With the introduction of a new stage, a new qualifying system has also been put forward. Fans might wonder if Türkiye beats the USA in their final group stage match; they might secure third place in the group based on goal difference.

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the places are being decided by head-to-head records. In that context, Türkiye, which has lost to both Australia and Paraguay, will not finish above either nation, even if they finish with a superior goal difference.

The new system puts FIFA in line with UEFA, which has always prioritised results between teams. Under the system, it is believed that assessing the direct performance of two teams is fairer than the goal difference. As a result, Haiti, Türkiye and Tunisia have been eliminated from the tournament.

Group D standings

After Türkiye vs Paraguay, the group standings are:

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