Turkey World Cup 2026 Squad — Players, Manager & Group

Arda Guler — one of the most exciting young players at the entire tournament

Arda Guler at 20 years old is one of the most exciting young players at the entire tournament. The Real Madrid midfielder has the technical ability and the creative vision to unlock any defence in the world when he is at his best. Turkey will be built around giving him the platform to express himself.

Hakan Calhanoglu — the experienced anchor that makes Turkey tick

Hakan Calhanoglu is the experienced anchor that makes Turkey tick. The Inter Milan midfielder is one of the best in his position in European football and brings leadership, passing range and set piece quality that Turkey simply cannot function without. The Guler-Calhanoglu combination is genuinely scary on their best day.

Kenan Yildiz — the player who could catch opponents off guard

Kenan Yildiz of Juventus is another young talent who could have a breakout tournament. At 20 he has already established himself in Serie A and brings pace, directness and goalscoring ability to Turkey's attack. Group D opponents will have done their homework on Guler — Yildiz could be the one who catches them off guard.

Talented but inconsistent — can Montella find the right balance?

Turkey have been a frustrating team for years — incredibly talented individually but inconsistent collectively. Montella has tried to bring more tactical discipline without stifling the creativity. Whether he has found the right balance will become apparent very quickly against Australia, USA and Paraguay.

Group D is competitive but winnable for Turkey

Group D is competitive but winnable. Turkey should be considered one of the favourites to qualify along with USA. Their attacking quality makes them capable of beating anyone on their day and that unpredictability is both their greatest asset and their greatest weakness.

Can this squad change the narrative of Turkish football at tournaments?

The Turkish football story at major tournaments always comes with questions about whether the talent will translate into results. 2002 was their peak — third place in the World Cup. Everything since has been a mixture of promise and underachievement. This squad has the quality to change that narrative.

Who is in Turkey's World Cup 2026 squad?

Full 26-man squad listed above including Arda Guler, Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz.

Who is Turkey's manager at World Cup 2026?

Vincenzo Montella, the Italian manager.

What group are Turkey in at World Cup 2026?

Group D with USA, Paraguay and Australia.

When do Turkey play their first World Cup game?

June 13 vs Australia at BC Place, Vancouver.

Who is Turkey's best player at World Cup 2026?

Arda Guler of Real Madrid is the standout talent — one of the most exciting young players at the tournament.