Türkiye has officially announced its final 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with head coach Vincenzo Montella placing his trust in a blend of experienced leaders and rising young stars.
The squad is headlined by captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler, and Juventus youngster Kenan Yıldız, who are expected to play key roles in Türkiye’s World Cup campaign.
Montella’s selection reflects the growing optimism surrounding Turkish football, with many analysts describing this generation as one of the country’s most talented in recent years. Alongside emerging stars, the squad includes experienced defenders such as Merih Demiral and Çağlar Söyüncü, as well as versatile full-back Ferdi Kadıoğlu.
In goal, Montella has selected Altay Bayındır, Mert Günok, and Uğurcan Çakır, providing strong competition for the number one position.
Türkiye will enter the tournament aiming to build on its recent progress and make a deep run on football’s biggest stage. Supporters across the country have welcomed the squad announcement, particularly the inclusion of several young talents who have impressed at club level in Europe.
The Turkish national team has been drawn into a challenging group featuring the United States, Paraguay, and Australia. Despite the difficult opposition, expectations remain high as fans hope this talented squad can deliver a memorable World Cup campaign.
With a mix of youth, experience, and players compTürkiye has officially announced its final 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with head coach Vincenzo Montella selecting a mix of experienced internationals and rising stars for the country’s first World Cup appearance in 24 years.
Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu leads the squad alongside Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler, Juventus forward Kenan Yıldız and experienced defender Merih Demiral. The announcement was made on June 2 as teams finalized their rosters ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Montella opted for experience in several key positions, including the selection of Kaan Ayhan, Salih Özcan and İrfan Can Kahveci. Midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz and forward Aral Şimşir, who were part of the preliminary squad, were left out of the final roster.
Türkiye’s goalkeeping unit consists of Altay Bayındır, Mert Günok and Uğurcan Çakır. The defensive line includes Abdulkerim Bardakcı, Çağlar Söyüncü, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Merih Demiral, Mert Müldür, Ozan Kabak, Samet Akaydın and Zeki Çelik.
In midfield and attack, Montella will rely on key figures such as Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Orkun Kökçü, Salih Özcan, Arda Güler, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Kenan Yıldız and Yusuf Yazıcı.
Türkiye enters the World Cup with growing optimism after an impressive rise under Montella. Many supporters see this squad as one of the country’s most talented generations in recent years, combining established leaders with young stars who have already made their mark at some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The Crescent-Stars have been drawn into Group D, where they will face Australia, Paraguay and co-hosts the United States. Their opening match is scheduled against Australia as Türkiye aims to make a strong return to football’s biggest stage after more than two decades away from the tournament.
With excitement building across the country, fans will be hoping that the likes of Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız can help guide Türkiye to a memorable World Cup campaign.eting at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, Türkiye will be looking to prove that it belongs among the world’s elite football nations when the tournament begins later this month.
