PRISTINA, Kosovo — The United States men’s national team has now identified its ultimate competitor at the FIFA World Cup. Türkiye — one of Europe’s most gifted yet volatile teams — secured its spot in Group D with a nail-biting 1-0 triumph in a playoff match against Kosovo in Pristina.
Kerem Aktürkoglu’s 53rd-minute goal proved sufficient for victory, propelling Türkiye into its inaugural men’s World Cup since it advanced to the semifinals in 2002, where they were defeated by the eventual champions, Brazil.
Occupying the 22nd position in the FIFA World Ranking, trailing by six places behind Maurico Pochettino’s U.S. squad, Türkiye is set to confront the World Cup’s joint hosts in Group D’s final game in Los Angeles on June 25, after both nations have already played against Paraguay and Australia. Should the U.S. fail to secure victories in both of its initial two games, its encounter with Türkiye at SoFi Stadium could determine the fate of the Americans’ aspirations for securing first place, or even advancing to the knockout stage of 32.
What can the U.S. anticipate when facing Vincenzo Montella’s squad, featuring budding Real Madrid talent Arda Güler and Juventus wide player Kenan Yildiz? Here is an overview of Türkiye’s advantages and vulnerabilities, and why they could emerge as one of the formidable dark horses at the World Cup this summer.
Türkiye’s Path to World Cup Qualification
Türkiye was compelled to navigate the playoff rounds, overcoming Romania followed by Kosovo, after ending up as runners-up in UEFA Group E, subordinate to the European champions Spain.
Although they defeated Bulgaria and Georgia both at home and on foreign soil, Türkiye’s pair of contests against Spain exemplified their capacity to contend with elite teams, but also their tendency to falter when the burden of high expectations weighs heavily — just as they did at Euro 2024, when they were expected to triumph over the Netherlands in the quarterfinals but lost.
Against Spain, Türkiye suffered a crushing 6-0 defeat on home turf, but they then managed a 2-2 stalemate against the World Cup favorites in Seville in the final group game.
A consistent theme with Türkiye emerges: anticipate unforeseen outcomes.
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Key Players for Türkiye
Real Madrid midfielder Güler is the preeminent talent, but he has a formidable group of teammates with Yildiz and Internazionale’s Hakan Çalhanoglu alongside him.
At 21, Güler is already the central figure of the Turkish squad. It was his poise and seasoned demeanor, at such a young age, that allowed them to assert superiority against Kosovo in Pristina.
He is still awaiting a consistent place in the starting lineup at Real, but it won’t be long before he is an integral member of Alvaro Arbeloa’s team. He possesses strategic insight akin to Luka Modric’s, but he is also impactful in more advanced positions, and his rapport with wide player Yildiz will be a foremost concern for Pochettino when evaluating dangers to his team.
Yildiz is a traditional wide attacker. Adept with both feet, he is deployed on the left flank; against Kosovo, he generated numerous opportunities with his incisive runs and inclination to deliver crosses or take shots. He can be erratic and frustrating at times, but at just 20, he has a bright prospect in football. He and Güler could be genuine sensations this summer.
Çalhanoglu is at the opposite end of the age spectrum at 32, but the Inter midfielder’s experience is vital for stabilizing the squad. When Türkiye took the lead in Pristina, Çalhanoglu was the pivotal individual in decelerating the play and allowing his team more command. He knew how to dictate the pace of the match, and in the heat of a U.S. summer, that kind of composed and experienced individual will be crucial.
Are there any unexpected elements?
Türkiye fullbacks Zeki Çelik and Ferdi Kadioglu are integral to Montella’s 4-2-3-1 formation because they both become additional wide attackers when the team advances into attack. Both possess speed and resolve, but they can also defend. Any team that faces Türkiye will need a plan to keep Çelik and Kadioglu – who play for Roma and Brighton, respectively, at club level — confined to their defensive zone.
Both players are seasoned professionals at the highest echelon and have competed in the European Championships with Türkiye, so the World Cup will not intimidate them. While all eyes will be on Güler and Yildiz, it is advisable to monitor closely Türkiye’s pair of formidable wide defenders.
Türkiye’s Vulnerabilities
As mentioned earlier, Türkiye has succumbed to pressure in the past. That could be a concern during the World Cup because they will be anticipated to advance among the top two teams from Group D.
But they will draw considerable confidence and conviction from their playoff success because they managed the strain of being strong contenders to overcome Romania in Istanbul in the semifinal before travelling to Kosovo and prevailing over a formidable young side on its home ground.
Nevertheless, on the field of play, Türkiye presents certain exploitable aspects.
The team is deficient in a dependable custodian — Galatasaray’s Ugurcan Çakir is the primary selection, making 37 appearances since his debut in 2019, but he does not meet the caliber demanded by leading footballing countries. His backup against Kosovo was Manchester United’s frequently faltering reserve option Altay Bayindir. Çakir might just be sufficiently trustworthy to navigate the World Cup, but Türkiye will face a predicament should he suffer injury or face suspension.
At the opposite end of the field, Türkiye is also unpersuasive and without a prolific goal-getter who can measure up to past luminaries Hakan Sukur, Burak Yilmaz and Tuncay Sanli. The decisive goal scorer in Pristina, Aktürkoglu, only netted three times during the qualifying campaign. None of the other attacking options available to Montella has an impressive goal tally.
In other words, Türkiye can be susceptible in defense — they allowed 12 goals past them in half a dozen qualifying matches — and they are short on offensive potency upfront. If Güler, Yildiz and Çalhanoglu can be contained, Türkiye’s threat substantially lessens.
Does Türkiye Pose a Menace to the USMNT?
Yes, Türkiye’s presence in Group D only complicates matters further for Mauricio Pochettino and his players.
Türkiye has weaknesses, but a team boasting talents such as Güler, Yildiz and Çalhanoglu is capable of defeating any adversary when performing at its best.
Had Kosovo advanced to the global tournament, it would have found itself in Group D as undisputed longshots. But Türkiye has some formidable individuals, and its collective prowess should establish it as the principal contender to win the group.