Turkey name preliminary squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Arda Guler & Kenan Yıldız
(Courtesy : Getty)
Ay-Yıldızlılar return to World Cup for first time since 2002.
The Turkey team’s preliminary roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been revealed. Head coach Vincenzo Montella selected the initial group of 35 players.
Star players such as Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz have been named in the squad, as the team will certainly rely on them to lead the attack in the competition.
Both are coming off an impressive club season and will be keen to take charge of the national team’s attack ahead of the big competition.
The Turkish National Football Team’s expanded roster has been revealed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Turkey are returning to the tournament for the first time since 2002 and will be ready to make a significant imprint.
However, Turkey group doesn’t appear challenging as they are set to face the USA, Paraguay, and Australia, hence they will be looking to top their group and secure a place in the knockout stage.
Moreover, they will begin their World Cup campaign against Australia, which will decide their competition’s fate in the opening game.
For the Crescent-Star team, head coach Vincenzo Montella selected the following 35-man candidate squad:
Turkey announce preliminary squad for FIFA World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayındır, Ersin Destanoğlu, Mert Günok, Muhammed Şengezer, Uğurcan Çakır
Defenders: Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Ahmetcan Kaplan, Çağlar Söyüncü, Eren Elmalı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Merih Demiral, Mert Müldür, Mustafa Eskihellaç, Ozan Kabak, Samet Akaydın, Yusuf Akçiçek, Zeki Çelik
Midfielders: Atakan Karazor, Demir Ege Tıknaz, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Kaan Ayhan, Orkun Kökçü, Salih Özcan, Aral Şimşir, Arda Güler
Forwards: Barış Alper Yılmaz, Can Uzun, Deniz Gül, İrfan Can Kahveci, Kenan Yıldız, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Oğuz Aydın, Yunus Akgün, Yusuf Sarı
Türkiye’s World Cup Schedule
- June 13, 2026: Australia vs Türkiye – BC Place (12:00 a.m. ET / 9:00 p.m. PT)
- June 19, 2026: Türkiye vs Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium (12:00 a.m. ET / 9:00 p.m. PT)
- June 25, 2026: Türkiye vs USA – SoFi Stadium (10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT)
Which group are Turkey in?
They are in Group D.
When is their first game?
It’s on 14th June, 9:30 am IST.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.