Türkiye’s president causes a stir
Fighter jets instead of football: anger over Erdoğan video
June 12, 2026 – 5:48 p.mReading time: 1 min.
The Turkish Football Federation publishes a video that President Erdoğan personally commissioned. The content triggers a discussion.
A video from the Turkish Football Association at the start of the World Cup is currently being sharply criticized in Turkey. The clip is based on the reinterpretation of a traditional folk song and is titled “All of You – We Turkey”. This was reported by the state news agency Anadolu. Parts of the video were created using artificial intelligence. It was commissioned by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
At the center of the criticism: In addition to football scenes, fighter jets, naval ships and the drone company Bayraktar can be seen in the video. Erdoğan himself appears in a jersey, on a car ride and at a military parade.
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A user on The opposition newspaper “Cumhuriyet” criticized that the video focused on “AKP propaganda rather than the national team, football and the World Cup.” The AKP is the party of the Turkish president.
First World Cup participation since 2002
There was also opposition from politicians. CHP MP Namik Tan wrote on X that the national team is of shared national value and not a party propaganda tool. Tan was formerly Türkiye’s ambassador to the United States.
Turkey last qualified for a World Cup in 2002. On Sunday the national team will face Australia at the start – kick-off is at 6:00 a.m. German time.