Historic night: World Cup dream on the line
The Turkish national team steps onto the pitch in Pristina chasing an ambition that has been growing for nearly a quarter of a century: a return to the FIFA World Cup. In the play-off final for the 2026 World Cup European qualifiers, Türkiye faces Kosovo away from home in a do-or-die clash that will decide which nation books its ticket to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The game will be played at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:45 Turkish time, with the stadium expected to be at full capacity for what is arguably the biggest match in Kosovo’s football history so far.
Probable starting line-ups
Kosovo is expected to take the field with:
Muric – Hajdari, Hajrizi, Dellova, Gallapeni – Muslija, Rexbecaj, Hodza – Vojvoda, Asllani – Vedat Muriqi.
Türkiye’s likely starting XI:
Uğurcan – Zeki, Ozan, Abdülkerim, Ferdi – Orkun, İsmail, Hakan – Arda, Kenan, Kerem.
The match will be officiated by English referee Michael Oliver. On the touchlines, he will be assisted by compatriots Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, while Christopher Kavanagh will serve as the fourth official.
Winner takes all: format of the play-off final
There is no second leg, no safety net and no room for error. The winner of this single match will clinch direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the game will proceed to extra time consisting of two 15-minute halves. Should the deadlock persist, the World Cup spot will be determined by a penalty shootout – a scenario that would push both nations’ nerves to the limit.
Türkiye reached this decisive stage by eliminating Romania 1-0 in the play-off semi-final, while Kosovo secured its place in the final thanks to a dramatic 4-3 victory over Slovakia.
Chasing the World Cup after 24 years
For Türkiye, this match represents far more than just another qualifier; it is an attempt to return to a stage from which the team has been absent since 2002. That year, the national side wrote one of the most memorable chapters in its football history, finishing third at the World Cup and capturing global attention.
In total, Türkiye has earned the right to participate in the World Cup three times. The first ticket came in 1950, but financial and logistical difficulties of the era prevented the team from traveling to the tournament, forcing a withdrawal before a ball was kicked.
The second appearance arrived at the 1954 World Cup. Drawn into a group with Hungary, West Germany and South Korea, Türkiye opened the campaign with a 4-1 defeat to West Germany, then bounced back impressively by beating South Korea 7-0. Due to the format at the time, another play-off meeting with West Germany was required, where Türkiye bowed out with a 7-2 loss.
It took 48 more years for the national team to return to the World Cup. In 2002, Türkiye qualified by overcoming Austria in the play-offs and went on to achieve a historic third-place finish, defeating hosts South Korea in the third-place match and etching that golden generation into football lore.
Now, 24 years after that fairy-tale summer, a new generation is attempting to lead the crescent-and-star back among the world’s elite.
Injury updates: Demiral doubtful, Zeki ready
Head coach Vincenzo Montella faces important decisions, partly shaped by fitness issues in the squad. Central defender Merih Demiral, who has been undergoing treatment and has not been able to train with the team, is not expected to feature in this crucial encounter.
On the other hand, right-back Zeki Çelik, who missed the match against Romania due to pain, has recovered sufficiently. He is considered available for selection, and if Montella gives him the nod, Zeki is ready to start or contribute off the bench, providing valuable experience on the flank.
Familiar faces in the Kosovo camp
Türkiye’s opponent is far from a mystery. Kosovo’s squad features several names well known to Turkish football followers. Leading the line is the team’s most prolific striker, Vedat Muriqi, who previously played for Giresunspor, Gençlerbirliği, Çaykur Rizespor and Fenerbahçe, and now continues his career at Mallorca in Spain. At international level, Muriqi has scored 32 goals in 67 appearances, underlining the danger he poses in and around the penalty area.
The second most effective attacking weapon is Beşiktaş winger Milot Rashica, who has found the net 12 times for Kosovo. In addition, defenders Florent Hadergjonaj and Fidan Aliti, both currently at Alanyaspor, strengthen the backline with their familiarity with the Turkish league. Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric is also no stranger, having guarded the posts for Adana Demirspor during the 2021-2022 season.
This strong Turkish connection makes the duel even more intriguing: many players know each other’s styles, weaknesses and strengths from domestic competition, which can narrow the margin for tactical surprises.
Türkiye’s full squad for the Kosovo clash
Montella has called up a deep and versatile group for the play-off final. The provisional squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Altay Bayındır (Manchester United), Mert Günok (Fenerbahçe), Muhammed Şengezer (RAMS Başakşehir), Uğurcan Çakır (Galatasaray).
Defenders:
Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Eren Elmalı (Galatasaray);
Mert Müldür (Fenerbahçe);
Mustafa Eskihellaç (Trabzonspor);
Samet Akaydin (Çaykur Rizespor);
Ahmetcan Kaplan (NEC Nijmegen);
Ferdi Kadıoğlu (Brighton);
Ozan Kabak (Hoffenheim);
Zeki Çelik (Roma);
Merih Demiral (Al Ahli).
Midfielders:
Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray);
İsmail Yüksek (Fenerbahçe);
Orkun Kökçü (Beşiktaş);
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter);
Salih Özcan (Borussia Dortmund);
Atakan Karazor (Stuttgart).
Forwards and attacking midfielders:
Barış Alper Yılmaz, Yunus Akgün (Galatasaray);
Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Oğuz Aydın (Fenerbahçe);
İrfan Can Kahveci (Kasımpaşa);
Arda Güler (Real Madrid);
Deniz Gül (Porto);
Kenan Yıldız (Juventus).
This mix of domestic and European-based players gives Türkiye both physical presence and technical quality, as well as creativity between the lines.
Kosovo’s 23-man squad
Kosovo head coach Franco Foda has also assembled a competitive group, balancing experience with emerging talents.
Goalkeepers:
Arijanet Muric (Sassuolo), Visar Bekaj (KF Tirana), Amir Saipi (Lugano).
Defenders:
Florent Hadergjonaj (Corendon Alanyaspor), Fidan Aliti (Corendon Alanyaspor), Ilir Krasniqi (Polissya Zhytomyr), Lumbardh Dellova (CSKA Sofia), Kreshnik Hajrizi (Sion), Mërgim Vojvoda (Como 1907), Dion Gallapeni (Wisla Plock), Albian Hajdari (Hoffenheim).
Midfielders:
Elvis Rexhbeçaj (Augsburg), Florent Muslija (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Edon Zhegrova (Juventus), Valon Berisha (Zürich), Veldin Hoxha (Rubin Kazan), Lindon Emerllahu (Polissya Zhytomyr).
Forwards:
Milot Rashica (Beşiktaş), Albion Rrahmani (Sparta Prague), Fisnik Asllani (Hoffenheim), Ermal Krasniqi (Legia Warsaw), Vedat Muriqi (Mallorca), Baton Za…
Even though Kosovo is still a relatively young football nation at international level, the presence of players active in top European leagues shows how quickly the team has grown in quality and ambition.
Tactical keys: how Türkiye can unlock Kosovo
From a tactical standpoint, Türkiye is likely to rely on controlled possession and quick vertical transitions. With Hakan Çalhanoğlu orchestrating from midfield, supported by Orkun Kökçü and İsmail Yüksek, the team has the tools to dictate rhythm and press high when needed.
The creativity of Arda Güler between the lines, the dribbling and pace of Kerem Aktürkoğlu, and the intelligent movement of Kenan Yıldız can stretch Kosovo’s defense both centrally and on the wings. Overlaps from Ferdi Kadıoğlu and Zeki Çelik could be crucial in creating numerical superiority in wide areas.
Defensively, keeping Vedat Muriqi under control will be a priority. Strong aerial defending by Ozan Kabak and Abdülkerim Bardakcı, as well as compact spacing between the lines, will be critical to preventing Kosovo from exploiting crosses and set pieces.
Mentality and pressure: a test of character
Matches of this magnitude are not decided by tactics alone. Psychological resilience often makes the difference. Many players in Türkiye’s squad are used to high-pressure situations at club level, competing in European competitions and title races. Translating that experience into the national jersey, however, requires composure, leadership and unity.
The memory of the 2002 generation places expectations on this team, but it can also serve as inspiration. Knowing that a third-place finish at a World Cup is part of the country’s football heritage can motivate the new generation to write their own chapter, beginning with qualification.
Kosovo, meanwhile, plays with the hunger of a nation seeking its first major breakthrough on the global stage. Backed by a passionate home crowd, they will aim to turn the atmosphere in Pristina into a weapon, pressing aggressively and feeding off every duel won.
Possible game scenarios
If Türkiye manages to score an early goal, the match could open up, forcing Kosovo to take more risks and leaving spaces for counterattacks led by Arda, Kerem or Kenan. In contrast, an early Kosovo goal would increase the tension on the Turkish side, testing their patience and ability to break down a compact defensive block.
Extra time and penalties remain realistic possibilities given what is at stake. In that case, squad depth – especially the ability to bring on fresh attacking options like Barış Alper Yılmaz, Yunus Akgün or İrfan Can Kahveci – may become decisive. Goalkeeper choices and preparation for spot-kicks could also tip the balance in a shootout scenario.
What this qualification would mean
A return to the World Cup would go far beyond a sporting success for Türkiye. It would energize domestic football, inspire a new generation of young players and restore the national team’s presence on the biggest stage after a 24-year absence. Commercially and emotionally, being part of a World Cup hosted across North America would offer immense visibility and pride.
For Kosovo, reaching the World Cup would be a landmark achievement, symbolizing the rapid rise of its footballing project and placing the country among the world’s elite for the first time. The match thus carries historic significance for both nations.
On a night framed by numbers – 24 years of waiting, 90 minutes of football, 11 players on each side – one moment, one goal or one save may decide everything. The target is clear for Türkiye: end the long wait, seize the opportunity, and secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.