Turkey - one of the potentially rich but also unpredictable teams in Europe - won a ticket to the 2026 World Cup after a minimal 1-0 victory over Kosovo in the play-off match in Pristina.
Kerem Akturkoglu's only goal in the 53rd minute was enough to bring coach Vincenzo Montella's team back to the biggest football festival on the planet for the first time since 2002 - a tournament where they once caused a shock when they reached the semi-finals.
Ranked 22nd in the FIFA rankings, Turkey is considered a formidable opponent in Group D, where they will face the USA, Paraguay and Australia. The match against the home team in Los Angeles is likely to be decisive for the ticket to the next round.
Turkey had to go awry to reach the World Cup after finishing behind Spain in the qualifiers. They successively overcame Romania and Kosovo in the play-offs, showing their bravery in moments of great pressure.
Although they once lost heavily 0-6 to Spain, the 2-2 draw right on the away field shows that this team can completely cause difficulties for strong opponents if they play at their best.
Promising young generation
The most notable star of Turkey is Arda Guler, a young talent of Real Madrid. At the age of 21, Guler has become the center of the play with impressive creativity and rhythm control.
Besides, Kenan Yildiz of Juventus brings breakthroughs on the wing, while Hakan Calhanoglu plays the role of leader in midfield with rich experience.
The combination of youth and experience helps Turkey become a deep and difficult-to-read team.
Clear strengths and weaknesses
Turkey's strength lies in its flexible attacking system, especially the support from two full-backs such as Zeki Celik and Ferdi Kadıoglu, who often push high to create pressure.
However, this team still has limitations. They lack a truly sharp striker, as Akturkoglu - who scored the decisive goal against Kosovo - is also not a stable "killer".
Besides, the goalkeeper position is also a big question mark, when Ugurcan Cakir has not reached the level of top teams.
A formidable dark horse
With an unpredictable playing style, a talented young squad and experience accumulated from stressful matches, Turkey can completely become the "dark horse" at the 2026 World Cup.
However, to turn potential into results, they will need to improve their ability to take advantage of opportunities and maintain stability - a factor that has caused this team to collapse many times in the past.
Turkey's presence in Group D will certainly make Mauricio Pochettino's journey with the US much more unpredictable.
Although there are still certain weaknesses, with a quality squad, Turkey is fully capable of defeating any opponent if they play at their best.
Kosovo may be considered the weakest team in the group. But with Turkey, the story is completely different. The balance between youth, technique and experience helps them become a highly competitive team, even a bright candidate for the top spot in Group D if they maintain stability.
