The National Football Team won the right to participate in the World Cup after 24 years by defeating Kosovo 1-0 away in the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualification Play-Off Final.
The National Football Team was the away guest of Kosovo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualification Play-Off Final. Michael Oliver from the English Football Federation blew the whistle for the match, which started at 21.45 GMT at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium. Oliver’s assistants were Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring.
Host Kosovo started the match with the 11 of “Muric, Dellova, Hajrizi, Hajdari, Gallapeni, Vojvoda, Hodza, Rexhbecaj, Muslija, Asllani and Vedat Muriç”. Turkey, on the other hand, took part in the field with “Uğurcan Çakır, Zeki Çelik, Ozan Kabak, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Orkun Kökçü, Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız and Kerem Aktürkoğlu”.
Türkiye made the first dangerous attack in the match. In the 9th minute, the ball that the Kosovo defense tried to clear from Zeki Çelik’s cross was caught by Kenan. Kenan’s shot returned the ball from the defense. Afterwards, Hakan found the ball in front of him and shot without waiting, and the ball came back from the defense once again. Kenan, who was following the ball, tried his luck once again, but again could not overcome the Kosovo defense. Host Kosovo caught its first dangerous position in the 24th minute. Goalkeeper Uğurcan checked the ball by lying down at the last moment, and Asllani, who was hanging behind the defense after Muslija’s pass from the left wing, turned the ball in. In the 27th minute, the national team spread to the opponent’s field with short passes and received the ball outside the penalty area, but Orkun’s hard shot went out narrowly. Kosovo came close to scoring in the 29th minute. Asllani found the ball in front of him after the pressure, Uğurcan Çakır touched the shot from outside the penalty area with his fingers, and it returned to the field of play from the leather round post. Following the bouncing ball, Vedat Muriç sent the ball over the top. In the 33rd minute, Kenan entered the penalty area from the left wing and turned it towards the penalty spot. Kosovo defense intervened at the last moment when Kerem, who was available, shot the shot. The first half of the match ended in a goalless draw. Türkiye took the lead in the 53rd minute. Kenan received the ball on the left wing after Orkun’s pass and turned it inside. Kerem Aktürkoğlu completed Orkun’s shot in front of the goal: 0-1. Kosovo came effective in the 87th minute. On the right of the penalty arc, Asllani tried the goal with a place kick, but Uğurcan deflected the ball for the corner. Since there was no other goal in the match, the National Football Team won the field with a score of 1-0 and earned the right to participate in the World Cup.
NATIONALS ARE IN THE WORLD CUP FOR THE 3RD TIME
The National Football Team will appear in the World Cup for the 3rd time in its history.
The national team had previously qualified for the World Cup in 1950, 1954 and 2002, but could not participate in the organization held in Brazil in 1950 due to the impossibilities of the time.
FIRST PARTICIPATION 1954
The first World Cup organization involving the National Football Team was in 1954.
The Crescent Stars, which are in the same group with Hungary, West Germany and South Korea, lost 4-1 to West Germany in their first match and beat South Korea 7-0 in their second match.
The national team faced West Germany again in accordance with the group format and was eliminated by losing 7-2 to its opponent.
PLACED 3RD IN 2002
The last World Cup adventure in which the National Football Team participated took place 48 years later. The national teams qualified to participate in the organization by beating Austria in the play-off round in 2002; achieved historical success by finishing the tournament in 3rd place.
The Crescent and Stars, who won the right to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by beating Kosovo, will appear in the organization for the third time.
