Türkiye
FIFA World Cup 2026 · Group C · vs United States, Australia, Paraguay
🎟 Türkiye Tickets
3 matchesFIFA Rank
#37
WC Titles
—
WC Apps
2
Best Result
3rd place (2002)
Star Player
Arda Güler
About Türkiye
Türkiye, with its capital in Ankara and a population of 85 million, is known for Istanbul's Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, Turkish cuisine, ancient Troy, and the Bosphorus. Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents — Europe and Asia — separated by the Bosphorus strait, with 15 million residents making it one of the largest cities in Europe.
In football, the Ay-Yıldızlılar (Crescent Stars) are a 2-time World Cup participant with their best result being 3rd place (2002). Their World Cup journey began in 1954, and they enter the 2026 tournament with Arda Güler as their talisman under head coach Vincenzo Montella. Hakan Şükür scored the fastest goal in World Cup history — just 11 seconds into Turkey's 3rd-place match against South Korea at the 2002 World Cup.
SeatNav's Power Index rates Türkiye at 2.9 out of 10, ranking them #36 overall and classifying them as a determined underdog. In Group C, they face United States, Australia, Paraguay in what has been categorized as a moderately challenging group (difficulty 5/10).
The current Ay-Yıldızlılar (Crescent Stars) squad features 31 players, with the final 26-man World Cup roster to be announced in May 2026. Türkiye have 3 confirmed group stage matches scheduled across the tournament.
Türkiye supporters traveling to the 2026 World Cup can look forward to matches across multiple host cities in the United States. Follow SeatNav for ticket availability, venue guides, and match day information as the tournament approaches.
Key Player
Arda Güler
Ay-Yıldızlılar (Crescent Stars) · FIFA #37
Head Coach
Vincenzo Montella
Home: Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul
Group C Battle Preview
Head-to-head records against each group opponent
Türkiye and United States have no significant competitive history, making their group-stage meeting in 2026 an intriguing first chapter.
View United States →
Türkiye and Australia have no significant competitive history, making their group-stage meeting in 2026 an intriguing first chapter.
View match preview →
Türkiye and Paraguay have no significant competitive history, making their group-stage meeting in 2026 an intriguing first chapter.
View match preview →Türkiye Tactical Identity
Under Vincenzo Montella, Türkiye bring a distinctive tactical approach to the 2026 World Cup. Ay-Yıldızlılar (Crescent Stars) will look to impose their style on group-stage opponents while managing the physical demands of the expanded tournament format.
SeatNav's Power Index rates Türkiye at 2.9/10 (ranked #36 overall), classifying them as determined underdogs in the Underdog tier. Their strongest factor is global fanbase and market demand while limited World Cup pedigree represents their biggest challenge.
2026 Tournament Outlook
Türkiye face a competitively balanced Group C draw against United States, Australia, Paraguay. With the expanded 48-team format sending the top two from each group plus the best third-placed teams through to the Round of 32, Ay-Yıldızlılar (Crescent Stars) will be targeting a minimum of two victories to secure safe passage.
Türkiye will face United States and Australia and Paraguay for the first time in competitive football, adding an element of unpredictability to the group dynamics.
Match Schedule
3 confirmed matches
Australia
Türkiye
Türkiye
Group C
Top 2 advance. Best 3rd-place teams qualify for Round of 32.
Squad (31)
Current national team squad. Final World Cup roster announced May 2026.
Goalkeepers(4)
Defenders(9)
Midfielders(10)
Forwards(8)
Away Kit Preview
Group Stage Opponents
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Türkiye
Squad data via API-Football. Team colors are approximate. Final World Cup rosters announced May 2026. SeatNav is not affiliated with FIFA. Profile: 329 words.