01.04.2026 09:42
The Turkish National Football Team qualified for the World Cup by defeating Kosovo 1-0 in the playoff final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers. Team captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu stated that they are happy to achieve this success after 24 years and expressed that their goal is to advance from the group stage.
The Turkish National Football Team, which secured its participation in the World Cup by defeating Kosovo 1-0 in the playoff final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers, returned to Istanbul.
The Turkish National Football Team, which arrived at Istanbul Airport from the capital of Kosovo, Pristina, by private jet, was warmly welcomed by a group of football fans.
In a statement to the press here, the captain of the Turkish National Football Team, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, expressed their happiness for qualifying for the World Cup after 24 years, saying, "Finally, it’s over. Our journey went very well. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed it a lot. Hopefully, we will represent our country in the best way at the World Cup."
When asked about their goals for the World Cup, the experienced player said, "The goal is, of course, to get out of the group first. Then to progress step by step. We need to succeed in getting out of the group first. You know I don’t like to talk big. I like to progress step by step. I believe in our team. Thank you to all my brothers. We are very proud to have brought this happiness to our country."
Çalhanoğlu, recalling that the Turkish National Team last participated in the World Cup in 2002, stated, "I was very young in 2002. I grew up watching my older brothers there. Thanks to them, I experienced this excitement. Hopefully, we will also pass this excitement on to the current youth."
The national player, regarding being in Group D with the USA, Paraguay, and Australia in the World Cup, said, "We have a good group. We need to succeed. We played very tough matches. Now we aim to prepare well for the World Cup and first get out of our group," he concluded.
The crescent-starred delegation, which included the President of the Turkish Football Federation, İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, and other officials, then left the airport.