Turkey secured a long-awaited return to the World Cup thanks to a narrow play-off victory over Kosovo, with Kerem Akturkoglu scoring the decisive goal. It marks their first appearance at the tournament since their memorable third-place finish in 2002, ending a run of five unsuccessful qualification campaigns.
The only goal came early in the second half after a flowing move saw Kenan Yildiz pull the ball back for Orkun Kokcu. His mishit effort found its way across goal, where Akturkoglu finished at the far post in the 53rd minute. Despite limited attacking output beyond the goal, Turkey managed to protect their advantage until the final whistle.
Kosovo came close to taking the lead before the break when Fisnik Asllani’s attempt was tipped onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. However, they were unable to convert their chances, allowing Turkey to edge a tense contest and confirm their place at the finals.
Qualification journey and group stage outlook
Turkey’s path to qualification included a strong showing in the early stages, winning four of their opening six matches. However, they missed out on automatic progression after finishing three points behind Spain in their group.
Their play-off run began with a narrow 1-0 victory over Romania in the semi-final, setting up the decisive clash in Pristina. Entering the match as clear favourites due to their higher world ranking, Turkey lived up to expectations, albeit in a closely fought encounter.
This summer, they will compete in Group C alongside Australia, Paraguay and co-hosts the United States. The squad, featuring key figures such as Arda Guler and Hakan Calhanoglu, arrives with confidence after reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Kosovo fall short of historic breakthrough
Kosovo’s hopes of reaching a first major tournament came to an end despite a spirited campaign. The nation, which began participating in international competitions less than a decade ago, had been aiming to make history with a World Cup debut.
Their journey began with FIFA approval in 2014, when they played their first official match — a goalless draw with Haiti. Since then, progress has been steady, including a dramatic 4-3 victory over Slovakia in the play-off semi-final that kept their dreams alive.
Finishing just three points behind Switzerland in their qualifying group highlighted their growth, but they ultimately could not overcome Turkey in the decisive fixture. The defeat brings an end to a remarkable run that had taken them to the brink of a historic milestone.