Turkey TUR

Turkey return to the World Cup stage for the first time in 22 years, and the anticipation surrounding Vincenzo Montella's side is entirely justified. Ranked 22nd in the world by FIFA, the Crescent-Stars arrive at the 2026 tournament carrying the weight of a nation that still cherishes the memory of their remarkable third-place finish back in 2002 — and dares to dream again.

Montella has done something quietly impressive in the build-up to this tournament: he has forged a harmonious squad around players who are genuinely in form, rather than simply in favour. The jewels in that crown are two of Europe's brightest attacking talents — Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz — whose combination of flair, youth, and big-club pedigree gives Turkey a creative threat capable of troubling any defence at this level.

The concerns, however, are real. A lack of a proven striker at the tip of the attack is a tangible problem, and pockets of the squad remain untested when the pressure of a knockout moment arrives. Those who remember Turkey's Euro 2020 campaign will recall how quickly things unravelled, and Montella will be acutely aware that talent alone cannot paper over those cracks.

The squad Montella can call upon is nonetheless rich with quality across the pitch. Altay Bayindir provides assurance in goal, while Merih Demiral, Samet Akaydin, Zeki Celik, and Ferdi Kadioglu form a defensive core with genuine top-level experience. In midfield, Salih Özcan and Orkun Kokcu offer the engine room, with Baris Alper Yilmaz and Can Uzun adding further attacking options alongside the headline duo of Guler and Yildiz.

Turkey's 2026 World Cup story is one of homecoming and ambition in equal measure. If Montella can keep the wheels turning and find a reliable cutting edge up front, this squad has the ingredients to make the tournament sit up and take notice.