PRISTINA: Türkiye ended a 24-year wait for World Cup football on Tuesday, beating Kosovo 1-0 in a tense UEFA playoff final to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kerem Aktürkoglu’s 53rd-minute close-range finish, fired into an almost-empty net after Orkun Kökçü’s shot was deflected into his path, proved decisive at a sold-out Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina. The match, refereed by England’s Michael Oliver, remained tight and low-scoring as Kosovo pushed hard for an equaliser but were unable to break through.
Score: Kosovo 0-1 Türkiye
Goal: Kerem Aktürkoglu (53′)
Türkiye, ranked around the mid-20s by FIFA and strong favourites on paper, finished second in UEFA Group E behind Spain to reach the playoffs. Their qualifying campaign showed flashes of quality and inconsistency: a resilient 2-2 draw away to Spain and comprehensive wins over Georgia and Bulgaria — including a 6-1 away win in Bulgaria — but also a heavy 0-6 home defeat by Spain.
Kosovo, FIFA and UEFA members only since 2016 and ranked around the high 70s, had captured the imagination of the nation with a dramatic 4-3 semi-final victory over Slovakia to reach their first ever shot at a major tournament. The small country — population about 1.6 million — saw the stadium electric with hope, but will leave with newfound respect for how far their team has come.
This will be Türkiye’s third World Cup appearance after 1954 and their run to third place in 2002, the latter widely regarded as the high-water mark of Turkish football. The 2002 side, coached by Şenol Güneş, famously beat South Korea to finish third, with Hakan Şükür scoring what remains the fastest World Cup goal.
Tuesday’s win, delivered under coach Vincenzo Montella, felt like redemption for a talented Turkish squad that has struggled to convert potential into tournament qualification since 2002.
Türkiye have been drawn into Group D for the expanded 2026 World Cup alongside co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and Australia, with some group matches scheduled at Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area.
Scenes of celebration erupted across Türkiye after the victory, while Kosovo’s players and supporters were left to reflect on a breakthrough campaign that has raised expectations for the future.
