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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiersplay-off round final stage will feature a match between the national football teams of Türkiye and Kosovo on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Priština, the capital of Kosovo. It has been announced that the winner of this match will earn qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It was stated that if the match ends in a draw after regular time, two additional 15-minute periods of extra time will be played; if the tie remains unresolved after extra time, the team qualifying for the tournament will be determined by a penalty shootout.
Türkiye National Football Team competed in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers alongside Spain, Georgia, and Bulgaria. In the group stage, Türkiye defeated Georgia 3-2 away and 4-1 at home, and Bulgaria 6-1 away and 2-0 at home. After suffering a 6-0 home defeat against Spain, Türkiye drew 2-2 in the away match and finished second in the group with 13 points, securing a place in the play-offs. In the play-off semi-final, Türkiye faced Romania and advanced to the final after winning 1-1 at home, with the decisive goal scored by Ferdi Kadıoğlu. The Kosovo National Football Team reached the final by defeating Slovakia 4-3 in their play-off semi-final match.
This final match holds significant importance as it offers Türkiye the chance to qualify for a World Cup for the first time in 24 years. Türkiye has participated in the World Cup on three occasions in its history: in 1950, 1954, and 2002. It withdrew from the 1950 tournament, was eliminated in the group stage in 1954, and finished third in 2002. It is recorded that players currently in the 2026 national squad—Ahmetcan Kaplan, Deniz Gül, Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, and Semih Kılıçsoy—were born after Türkiye’s last participation in the 2002 tournament. It has also been noted that Türkiye’s head coach, Vincenzo Montella, played for the Italy national team during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The Türkiye National Football Team conducted its preparatory training camp at the TFF Hasan Doğan National Teams Training and Education Facility under the management of head coach Vincenzo Montella. The training sessions focused on tactical variations, passing organization, and set-piece drills. It was reported that Merih Demiral, due to ongoing treatment, is training individually and is not expected to play in this match, while Zeki Çelik, who has been experiencing pain, is fit to play if selected. The preparation process was closely monitored by the Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, and other federation officials.
A National Football Team, preparations for the Kosovo match (AA)
The 23-player provisional squad for Kosovo, selected by head coach Franco Foda, includes several players who have previously played in Turkish leagues.
Among the team’s top scorers are Vedat Muriç, who has netted 32 goals in 67 appearances for Kosovo and continues his career at Mallorca, and Milot Rashica, who plays for Beşiktaş.
The squad also includes Florent Hadergjonaj and Fidan Aliti from Alanyaspor, as well as Arijanet Muric, who previously guarded the goal for Adana Demirspor.
English referee Michael Oliver (AA)
The match will be officiated by English referee Michael Oliver, appointed by the English Football Association. His assistant referees will be Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, also from England, while Christopher Kavanagh will serve as the fourth official.
With this play-off final, the national teams of Türkiye and Kosovo will meet for the fourth time in history. Their first encounter took place on 21 May 2014, before Kosovo was officially recognized as a FIFA member, under a special FIFA permit. Türkiye won the match 6-1. In that game, Kosovo scored its first-ever international goal through Albert Bunjaku, while the Turkish national team took to the field wearing black jerseys bearing the word “Türkiye” to honor the victims of the Soma mine disaster. Both teams carried banners with messages of remembrance.
Türkiye-Kosovo match infographic (AA)
Following Kosovo’s official recognition as a member of FIFA and UEFA by the Federation in 2016, two official matches have been played between the two nations. The first official encounter took place on 12 November 2016 in Antalya as part of the 2018 World Cup European Qualifiers, with Türkiye winning 2-0. In the return leg on 11 June 2017 in Shkodër, Türkiye again emerged victorious with a 4-1 win.
Overall statistics show that Türkiye won all three previous matches, scoring 12 goals while conceding only two.
The presence of a “Kosovo-Türkiye Friendship Park” in Priština and messages in Kosovo’s national media highlighting past solidarity between the two countries have been recorded as reflections of their bilateral relations.
2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers play-off final will feature a match between the Türkiye and Kosovo national football teams. Ahead of the encounter, developments have taken place in both camps, and official statements have been made by the technical staff and players. The match, to be held at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, is decisive for both national teams in their pursuit of qualification for the World Cup.
The Türkiye national football team arrived in Pristina, the venue of the match, accompanied by a large delegation including Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, and TFF Vice President Mecnun Otyakmaz. TFF Vice President Otyakmaz recalled his time as president of Sivasspor, when the team lost to Kosovo in a friendly match held in Gaziantep, but emphasized that this official match aims for a victory on the pitch. It was underscored that the Türkiye national team, preparing for its 649th match in history, is approaching this encounter with great seriousness.
Türkiye national team head coach Vincenzo Montella assessed his 2.5-year tenure, highlighting achievements such as the victory over Croatia, promotion to the UEFA Nations League A, and rising from 42nd to 25th place in the FIFA rankings. The Italian coach described Kosovo as a tactically consistent opponent capable of flexible formations—five-man defense, three-man midfield, and two-striker setup—and stated that his team has prepared specific game plans tailored to their rivals’ characteristics. Montella also noted that no observations or preparations have been made regarding potential World Cup group stage opponents such as the United States, Australia, and Paraguay, as the entire focus remains on the match against Kosovo.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (left) and Vincenzo Montella (right) (AA)
Team captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu reported that he has overcome the cramp issue he experienced in the previous match and is physically ready for the game. Çalhanoğlu highlighted Kosovo’s effectiveness in transitions and counterattacks, noting key players such as Fisnik Asllani, Kenan, and Vedat in their squad. He added that if Türkiye qualifies for the World Cup, he hopes former players from the 2002 World Cup squad—Tugay Kerimoğlu, İlhan Mansız, Yıldıray Baştürk, Alpay Özalan, and Bülent Korkmaz—will be invited to join the delegation in the United States. Çalhanoğlu also noted that previous statements by the TFF President regarding the necessity of winning matches against Romania, Kosovo, and Slovakia have not created additional pressure on the team.
Kosovo national team head coach Franco Foda described Türkiye as a team effective with short passes and possessing high-caliber players such as Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Foda defined Kosovo’s chances of winning the match as 50 percent, stating that they aim to exploit quick counterattacks when regaining possession, while also preparing for the possibility of extra time or penalties.
Franco Foda (left) and Vedat Muriç (right) (AA)
Players who have worn the Kosovo jersey and either currently play or have previously played in Türkiye offered tactical and psychological assessments of the match. Forward Vedat Muriç, who played in Türkiye for eight years, said his team studied the first half of Türkiye’s match against Romania and acknowledged the quality of their opponents, but emphasized that they will be motivated by national pride in this encounter.
Defender Fidan Aliti, who plays for Corendon Alanyaspor, labeled Türkiye as the favorite but pointed out that Kosovo’s 4-3 comeback win against Slovakia in a previous match, after trailing twice, instilled great character and momentum in the team. Aliti added that the current Kosovo squad is significantly more experienced than the one that competed in the 2020 European Championship play-offs.
Florent Hadergjonaj, who has made 194 appearances in the Süper Lig for Kasımpaşa and Alanyaspor, stated that playing in front of their own fans in Pristina provides a clear advantage. He noted that both of his children were born in Türkiye and argued that the pressure in this match will fall more heavily on Türkiye, emphasizing the need for his team to maintain high concentration.
Jetmir Topalli, who plays for Serikspor in the Trendyol 1. Lig and has previously played for several Turkish clubs, stated that Türkiye’s squad depth makes them the favorite. Topalli praised the work done under head coach Franco Foda, expressed admiration for Arda Güler, and highlighted Vedat Muriç as a significant threat to Türkiye on behalf of Kosovo.
Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, hosted the match at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium, which Türkiye won 1-0. With this result, Türkiye has qualified for the tournament to be held between 11 June and 19 July 2026 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, ending a 24-year absence.
The night before the match, Kosovar fans set off fireworks around the hotel where the Türkiye national team was staying and attempted to disrupt the players’ sleep, as later reported by team captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu after the match.
Türkiye starting XI (AA)
Uğurcan Çakır, Zeki Çelik (89th min Mert Müldür), Ozan Kabak, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Hakan Çalhanoğlu (83rd min Eren Elmalı), Arda Güler (83rd min Salih Özcan), Orkun Kökçü, Kenan Yıldız (89th min Deniz Gül), Kerem Aktürkoğlu (69th min Barış Alper Yılmaz)
Arijanet Muric, Vojvoda (71st min Zhegrova), Dellova, Hajrizi, Hajdari (80th min Aliti), Gallapeni, Hodza (90+1st min Rrahmani), Rexhbecaj (80th min Rashica), Muslija, Asllani, Vedat Muriç
The first half ended goalless. In the 10th minute, a Türkiye attack forced a clearance from the Kosovo defense, leaving the ball at Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s feet. His shot deflected off a defender and reached Kenan Yıldız, who was positioned in the left diagonal inside the penalty area. Yıldız’s close-range attempt struck the foot of a Kosovo defender and flew just over the crossbar into the corner. In the 27th minute, Orkun Kökçü received the ball on the left diagonal outside the penalty area and fired a powerful shot without hesitation; the ball narrowly missed the post and went out of play.
Kosovo-Türkiye match (AA)
Immediately after this chance, in the 29th minute, Kosovo launched a dangerous attack. A long pass from defense found Asllani in front of the penalty arc, whose powerful shot was blocked by goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır. The rebound struck the crossbar and bounced back into play. In the 33rd minute, Kenan Yıldız, receiving a long pass from the Türkiye defense, dribbled past his marker and reached the endline before crossing into the penalty area. Kerem Aktürkoğlu controlled the ball and shot, but Kosovo’s defense blocked it at the last moment. In stoppage time of the first half, at 45+1 minutes, Türkiye’s Kerem Aktürkoğlu received a yellow card from the referee. The first half ended 0-0 with neither side scoring.
Both teams began the second half seeking a goal, and the match’s only goal was scored in this half. In the 53rd minute, Kenan Yıldız moved with the ball down the left flank, entered the penalty area, and passed to the penalty spot. Orkun Kökçü, running onto the pass, shot toward goal; the ball struck a Kosovo defender and deflected toward the net. From behind, Kerem Aktürkoğlu touched the ball with his foot, directing it into the net and giving Türkiye a 1-0 lead.
Kosovo-Türkiye match (AA)
After the goal, Türkiye continued attacking. In the 63rd minute, Kenan Yıldız received a pass from Arda Güler on the left flank, broke away from his marker, and fired a powerful shot from the left diagonal; Kosovo goalkeeper Muric stretched to block it. In the later stages, head coach Vincenzo Montella made substitutions: in the 69th minute, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who had scored the goal and received a yellow card, was replaced by Barış Alper Yılmaz.
In the 81st minute, Kosovo came close to equalizing. A poorly cleared ball from the Türkiye defense fell to Muslija, who fired from outside the penalty area. The ball bounced to Asllani, whose powerful shot from inside the area was saved at the last moment by goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, who stretched to deflect it into the corner. In the final minutes, captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu was substituted in the 83rd minute, with Orkun Kökçü taking over the captain’s armband. Additionally, Eren Elmalı, Salih Özcan, Mert Müldür, and Deniz Gül were introduced in the closing stages. The match ended 1-0 in Türkiye’s favor, and the team qualified for the tournament without conceding a goal in the play-off round. In the other matches of the same stage, Sweden defeated Poland 3-2, and Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Italy 4-1 on penalties to secure their World Cup ticket.
Following the final whistle, Türkiye national team players celebrated on the pitch and in the locker room. During head coach Vincenzo Montella’s post-match press conference, the players entered the room and doused the Italian coach with water to share their joy. Montella expressed pride in the players’ sense of belonging and in becoming the first foreign coach to lead Türkiye to both a European Championship and a World Cup qualification. He also praised Kosovo’s fighting spirit and noted his appreciation for the opposition’s officials who congratulated his team after the match. TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu emphasized that the team’s goal was to return to Türkiye with the trophy from the United States and highlighted the unity and solidarity within the squad. TFF officials Mecnun Otyakmaz and Fuat Göktaş congratulated the players, saying they had captured the atmosphere of a championship team.
After the match, national team players gave statements to the press. Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu said they were immensely proud to end a 24-year World Cup absence and invited former national players such as Fatih Terim, Şenol Güneş, and those who played in 2002 to support the team at the tournament. Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who scored the winning goal, said the victory was a gift to the nation. Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır appeared with his father Mustafa Çakır before cameras, stating he modeled his performance on Rüştü Reçber’s 2002 display and emphasized that this success after 24 years was more valuable than individual heroics. Arda Güler, alongside Altay Bayındır and Samet Akaydın, expressed their joy, saying playing in the World Cup was a childhood dream. Barış Alper Yılmaz mentioned dancing the horon and performing the halay in the locker room, while Kaan Ayhan stated their goal was to advance from the group stage. Mert Günok said they shared the fans’ joy. Former national player Bülent Korkmaz stated that Türkiye’s qualification was a well-deserved achievement and that the squad consisted of players of Champions League caliber. After the match, the national team returned to Istanbul Airport by private aircraft, where they were greeted by fans.
The national team’s victory was celebrated across Türkiye with widespread events. In Ankara, citizens gathered at Kızılay Milli İrade Square, Bahçelievler, and Tunalı Hilmi Street, waving flags and forming car convoys playing Tarkan’s song “Bir Oluruz Yolunda.” In Istanbul, fans in Zeytinburnu, Fatih (Topkapı), Taksim, Beşiktaş, Maltepe, Kartal, Sarıyer, Ümraniye, and Sultangazi watched the match on giant screens set up in public squares and celebrated by honking horns. In İzmir, crowds gathered at Buca Hasanağa Park, recited the İstiklal Marşı before the match, and joined in celebrations after the final whistle.
Celebrations were not limited to major cities. Citizens poured into squares in Samsun’s Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Çankırı’s city square, Konya’s Zafer Meydanı, Aksaray, Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, Şırnak’s Gençlik Merkezi Salonu, Adana, Hatay’s İskenderun, Osmaniye’s Devlet Bahçeli Meydanı, Erzurum, Erzincan’s Dörtyol Kızılay Meydanı, Ardahan’s Kongre Caddesi, Tunceli’s Munzur Erkek Öğrenci Yurdu, Kayseri’s Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Nevşehir’s Kapadokya Kültür Merkezi, Kırşehir’s Ahi Evran Kongre Kültür Merkezi, Yozgat’s Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Niğde’s Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Sivas’s city square, Kilis’s Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş’s Aliya İzzetbegoviç Millet Bahçesi, Antalya’s Olbia Kent Meydanı, Isparta’s Atatürk Parkı, Trabzon’s 15 Temmuz Şehitleri Meydanı, Rize’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Ordu’s Fatsa Cumhuriyet Meydanı, Artvin’s Çoruh Üniversitesi, Bayburt, Bursa, Eskişehir’s Yılmaz Büyükerşen Bulvarı, Balıkesir’s Milli Kuvvetler Caddesi, and Çanakkale’s Kordon Boyu. People formed car convoys and lit torches to celebrate this historic achievement across the country.
Following the match, state institutions and officials issued congratulatory messages. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a social media post, praised the national team’s success and wished them further achievements on their path to the final in the Americas. TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, and ministers of Transport, Industry, Agriculture, Trade, Environment, Health, Justice, Family, Culture and Tourism, Labor, and National Education all shared messages of congratulations. The Ministry of National Defense also issued a statement of praise.
From the sports community, the Turkish Football Federation, Turkish Basketball Federation, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Trabzonspor, and numerous Süper Lig clubs shared celebratory messages on social media. Representatives from the defense industry—including Defense Industry Presidency Chairman Haluk Görgün, Baykar Board Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar, HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar, and institutions such as ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, STM, and TUSAŞ—also issued congratulatory statements. Internationally, FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Türkiye, stating that the passion of the national team and its fans would illuminate North America and that a new chapter had been opened in Turkish football history.
Global sports media highlighted Türkiye’s return to the World Cup after a 24-year absence. The Athletic noted that Türkiye’s qualification filled the final spot in Group D, making it harder for the United States to advance than fans had anticipated. Spanish newspaper AS referred to Arda Güler as a legend and emphasized the end of the 24-year World Cup drought. Marca drew attention to the tense final moments and the ultimate success. Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out that the only Italian celebrating World Cup joy that night was Türkiye’s head coach, Vincenzo Montella, as Italy failed to qualify for the tournament for the fourth time. Reuters, Bild, and BBC Sports also reported on the match result.
With this result, the Türkiye national team has qualified for the World Cup for the third time in its history. Türkiye first earned qualification in 1950 but could not participate in the tournament in Brazil due to logistical challenges. Their first actual participation came in 1954 in Switzerland, where they were placed in a group with Hungary, West Germany, and South Korea, and were eliminated by West Germany. The most recent World Cup in which Türkiye participated was in 2002, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. In that tournament, Türkiye finished second in a group containing Brazil, Costa Rica, and China. They advanced past Japan in the Round of 16 and Senegal in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals. After losing to Brazil in the semifinals, they defeated host nation South Korea in the third-place match to finish the tournament as third-place finishers.
According to the draw, Türkiye will compete in Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States, Paraguay, and Australia.
The national football teams of Türkiye and Kosovo will face each other on 31 March 2026 at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Priština in the playoff final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers. The winner of this match, to be officiated by English referee Michael Oliver, will earn the right to participate in the tournament jointly hosted by the United States Canada and Mexico. Türkiye, which finished second in its group and eliminated Romania 1-0 in the semifinal, will have the chance to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002 and after a 24-year absence if they win this match. Kosovo’s squad includes players such as Vedat Muriç and Milot Rashica who have played in Türkiye’s leagues in the past and present, while Merih Demiral, who is currently undergoing treatment, is not expected to play for the Turkish national team. The two teams have met three times previously, including one friendly, and have historically maintained strong friendly ties, with Türkiye winning all of their past encounters.
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