01.04.2026 09:46
After the Turkish National Football Team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu stated that they would go to the USA and believed they would return to Turkey with the trophy. Responding harshly to criticisms directed at him, Hacıosmanoğlu said, "This nation knows everything. I come from this nation. They know those who fight over bonuses. They also know those who form groups and argue with their coach. They are aware of the incidents where people pull guns on each other in the camp and hotel rooms."
The Turkish National Football Team secured the right to participate in the World Cup after 24 years by defeating Kosovo 1-0 away in the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Play-Off Final. After the match, the President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, made statements to the press. Hacıosmanoğlu said, "I have always said, I believe in my daughter's pure heart. 12 days before the congress, when she got very angry, she said, 'Dad, go, be the boss of football. Let's be world champions.' The children deserve everything. People misunderstand my words. I am not speaking politically. I come from the street. I speak in a language that people can understand. When I say 'the most characterful, most talented squad in history,' I am not calling anyone characterless. They are following in the footsteps of their older brothers. Their brothers brought great joy to this noble nation in the European Championship and the World Cup. Most of them take them as examples and continue on their path," he stated.
'THEIR ONLY GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS NOBLE NATION HAPPY BY FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THEIR BROTHERS'
İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu expressed that everyone in the national team loves each other, saying, "This nation knows everything. I come from this nation. I know those who fight over bonuses. I know those who fight with their coach as a group. I know the incidents of those who drew weapons on each other in the camp, in hotel rooms. When you look at the national team today, everyone loves each other. Everyone is friends with each other. They know that their only goal is to make this noble nation happy by following in the footsteps of their brothers," he said.
'WE WILL TAKE THE TROPHY AND COME TO TURKEY'
Hacıosmanoğlu expressed that they did not play the football they are capable of in the matches against Romania and Kosovo, and continued his words:
"We cannot say that we played the football that suits us in the two matches. My coach said the same thing today. These matches are single matches. What matters is to win, even if it's by half a goal. But I believe that we will go to the USA. God willing, we will take the trophy from there and come to Turkey," he stated.
'GOD WILL GRANT US'
Hacıosmanoğlu, who said that his daughter Ela prayed until the end of the match, stated, "She is the architect of this. She is praying there. Now she came to me, her eyes are watery. She says, 'Dad, I prayed until the match was over.' She was also praying on the field. They are angels. You have to believe in their pure hearts. I believe too, God will grant us," he concluded his remarks.