Can Turkey replicate its historic success at the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Turkey’s qualification marks a major return to the global stage for the first time since 2002, when they achieved a remarkable third-place finish at the FIFA World Cup 2002. This comeback signals progress, but expectations must be tempered given the increased competitiveness of modern international football. While the current squad has momentum, reaching the latter stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026 would require consistency against top-tier teams and depth across the tournament. The most realistic scenario is that Turkey advances from the group stage and potentially reaches the knockout rounds, but matching a semifinal or podium finish remains unlikely in the near term.