Pristina, Kosovo — the United States of America The men’s national team now knows its final opponent FIFA World Cup. turkiye – one of Europe’s most talented and unpredictable teams – secured their place in Group D with a tense 1-0 Playoff win against Kosovo in Pristina.
Kerem AkturkogluThe 53rd-minute goal was enough to claim victory and send Türkiye to its first Men’s World Cup after reaching the semi-finals – losing to the eventual winners brazil — in 2002.
Sitting in 22nd place in the FIFA world rankings, six places below Maurico Pochettino’s US team, the Turks will face the World Cup co-hosts in the final game of Group D in Los Angeles on June 25, after the two countries have already clashed. paraguay And Australia. Unless the US wins its opening two games, its showdown with Turkiye at Sofi Stadium could make or break the Americans’ hopes of claiming the top spot, or even qualifying for the round of 32.
What can America expect from Vincenzo Montella’s team, which includes youth real Madrid star Arda Guler And juventus winger Kenan Yildiz? Here’s what to know about Turkiye’s strengths and weaknesses, and why he could become one of the dangerous outsiders at the World Cup this summer.
How did Turkey qualify for the World Cup?
Türkiye was forced to go to the playoffs after defeating romania And then KosovoAfter finishing second in UEFA Group E behind the European champions spain.
Although they beat bulgaria And Georgia Home and away, the Turks’ two fixtures with Spain epitomize their ability to compete with the best, but also their tendency to collapse when under the pressure of expectation – as they did at Euro 2024, when they were looking to beat Netherlands In the quarter finals but lost.
Against Spain, the Turks were beaten 6–0 at home, but then held the World Cup favorites to a 2–2 draw in Seville in the final group game.
The message with Turkiye is clear: Expect the unexpected.
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Who are Turkey’s star players?
Real Madrid midfielder Güler is a standout performer, but he has a strong supporting cast with Yildiz and international‘S Hakan Shalhanoglu With him.
At the age of 21, Güler is already the heartbeat of the Turkish team. It was his control and maturity, at such a young age, that enabled him to dominate against Kosovo in Pristina. He has yet to earn a regular starting spot at Real, but it won’t take long for him to become a mainstay in Álvaro Arbeloa’s team. his philosophy is luka modricBut he is also effective further forward, and his understanding with winger Yildiz will be top of Pochettino’s list when it comes to assessing threats to his team.
Yildiz is a classic, old-school winger. Strong with both feet, he works from the left; Against Kosovo, he created several chances with his direct running and willingness to cross or shoot. He can be inconsistent and annoying at times, but at just 20 years old, he has a huge future in the game. She and Guler could be the real stars this summer.
Alhanoglu is at the other end of the scale at 32, but the Inter midfielder’s experience is vital in strengthening the squad. When the Turks advanced in Pristina, Alhanoglu was the key figure in slowing the game down and giving his team more control. He knew how to manage the game, and in the heat of the American summer, that kind of measured and experienced player would be vital.
Any potential surprises?
turkiye fullback Zeke Celik And ferdi kadioglu They are a big part of Montella’s 4-2-3-1 formation as they both become supporting wingers when the team goes forward. Both have speed and tenacity, but can also defend. Any team facing Turkiye will need a plan to keep Celik and Kadioglu – who play for Roma and Brighton respectively at club level – back in their own half.
Both players are experienced at the top level and have performed at the Euros with Turkiye, so the World Cup will not trouble either of them. While all eyes will be on Guler and Yildiz, it would be worth keeping an eye on Turkiye’s dangerous fullback duo.
What are Turkiye’s weaknesses?
As mentioned earlier, Turkiye has cracked under pressure in the past. This could be an issue in the World Cup as they will be expected to qualify in the top two from Group D.
But they will take plenty of strength and confidence from their playoff success as they faced the pressure of being heavy favorites to defeat Romania in Istanbul in the semi-finals before traveling to Kosovo and winning against a dangerous young team on their own turf.
However, there are areas on the pitch in which Turkiye could be tested.
The team lacks a reliable goalkeeper. Galatasaray‘S Ugurkan Sakir The first-choice forward has made 37 appearances since his debut in 2019, but he is not at the level expected by major internationals. He was a backup against Kosova Manchester Unitederror-prone second choice Altay Bayindir. Cakir may be reliable enough to make it to the World Cup, but Turkiye will be in trouble if he gets injured or suspended.
At the other end of the pitch, Türkiye has also been inconsistent and lacks a goalscorer who can compare to former greats Hakan Sukur, Burak Yilmaz and Tuncay Sanli. Akturkoglu, the match-winner in Pristina, scored only three goals in qualification. None of the other attacking options available to Montella have a very good scoring record.
In other words, the Turks may be weak defensively – they have conceded 12 goals in six qualifiers – and their strikers lack firepower. If Güler, Yildiz and Shalhanoglu can be kept quiet, Turkiye’s threat is significantly reduced.
Is Turkiye a threat to the USMNT?
Yes, the presence of Turkiye in Group D makes life more difficult for Mauricio Pochettino and his players.
Turkiye have weaknesses, but a team with the quality of Güler, Yildiz and Shalhanoglu can beat any opponent on their day.
If Kosovo had advanced to the World Cup, they would have drawn into Group D as clear underdogs. But Turkiye has some serious players, and its overall potential could make it a favorite to top the group.
