04.06.2026 09:21
If Turkey advances to the round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup, their opponent will vary depending on their group finish. If the Crescent-Stars finish as group leaders, they will face one of the third-place teams; if they finish second, they will play the runner-up of Group G; and if they qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, they could be matched against giants like Germany, France, or Portugal.
The possible opponents the Turkish National Football Team could face if they advance to the round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup are becoming clear. The Crescent-Stars have three different scenarios ahead.
TURKISH NATIONAL TEAM'S POTENTIAL OPPONENTS REVEALED
As the countdown continues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the possible opponents for the Turkish National Football Team in the round of 32 have also taken shape. In the new 48-team format, group winners, runners-up, and the best third-placed teams will face off in different pairing scenarios.
TURKEY'S GROUP STAGE OPPONENTS
Turkey, placed in Group D, will compete against Australia, Paraguay, and host USA in the group stage. The Crescent-Stars will advance to the round of 32 if they finish in the top two of their group or become one of the eight best third-placed teams.
IF THEY FINISH AS GROUP WINNERS
If Turkey finishes Group D as winners, it is stated that they could be paired in the round of 32 with one of the teams finishing third in Groups B, E, F, I, or J.
Notable teams in these groups include Germany, France, Argentina, Netherlands, Norway, Senegal, Switzerland, and Austria.
IF THEY FINISH AS GROUP RUNNERS-UP
If the National Team finishes the group stage in second place, they are predicted to face the runner-up of Group G.
Group G includes Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. Therefore, Belgium and Egypt stand out among Turkey's possible opponents.
IF THEY PLACE AMONG THE BEST THIRD-PLACED TEAMS
If Turkey finishes third in their group but still places among the eight best third-placed teams, their task could become even harder. In this scenario, the Crescent-Stars will be paired with one of the group winners from Groups E, I, or K.
These groups feature strong teams such as Germany, France, Portugal, as well as Ecuador, Senegal, Norway, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
NEW FORMAT WITH 32-TEAM KNOCKOUT ROUND
For the first time in the 2026 World Cup, 48 teams will compete. According to the tournament format, in addition to the teams finishing in the top two of the 12 groups, the eight best third-placed teams will also advance to the round of 32. Thus, the knockout stage will begin with 32 teams.