Turkey have finally ended their 24-year wait to return to the FIFA World Cup, booking their place in the 2026 finals with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Kosovo in Pristina.
Having last made global headlines with a remarkable semifinal run in the 2002 World Cup, Turkey endured years of frustration, repeatedly falling short in the qualification stages. That long drought came to an end as Vincenzo Montella’s side held their nerve in a tense playoff final.
Despite being ranked significantly higher, Turkey faced a resilient Kosovo side that matched them throughout much of the contest. The hosts came close to taking the lead in the first half when Fisnik Asllani unleashed a powerful strike, only for Turkish goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır to tip the ball onto the crossbar.
The decisive moment arrived in the 53rd minute. Following a scramble inside the box, Orkun Kökçü’s mishit effort fell kindly to Kerem Aktürkoğlu at the back post, who calmly slotted home the winner.
Turkey managed the remainder of the match professionally, maintaining their defensive shape to secure a historic victory and long-awaited qualification.
At the 2026 World Cup, Turkey will compete in Group C alongside Australia, Paraguay, and co-hosts the United States, setting up a challenging group-stage campaign.
For Kosovo, the defeat marked a heartbreaking end to an impressive run. Since gaining FIFA and UEFA membership in 2016, the Balkan nation has made rapid progress. Reaching the playoff final—after a thrilling 4–3 semifinal win over Slovakia—represents a significant milestone in their footballing journey.
Although they fell just short of qualification, Kosovo’s rise signals a promising future on the international stage.
