Turkey's World Cup Dream Becomes Reality!
One of the most important moments in Turkish football history was written with the 3-1 victory against Kosovo. Our National Team, qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 2002, brought the entire country to joy. The 52,000 fans in the stadium couldn't hold back their tears as the final whistle blew.
National Team captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu was one of the biggest contributors to this historic success as the team's leader. The star player who plays for Inter moved all of Turkey with his post-match statements. Çalhanoğlu's words "The 24-year longing is over, we're going to this cup!" went viral on social media.
Emotional Moments at the Airport
The National Team's return to Istanbul turned into a true victory celebration. Thousands of fans waited for hours at Atatürk Airport to welcome their heroes. Especially Hakan Çalhanoğlu breaking into tears as soon as he got off the plane touched everyone's hearts.
Captain Çalhanoğlu said in his statement at the airport: "This success belongs to all of Turkey. 85 million became one heart. We gave everything on the field and made history." After the statement, "Turkey! Turkey!" chants were made together with the fans.
On social media platforms, 3.2 million tweets were posted with the hashtag #GoingToTheWorldCup. On Instagram, the National Team players' posts received a total of 18 million likes.
The Moment When 24 Years of Longing Ended
When examining Turkey's World Cup adventures, the 3rd place achieved in the 2002 Japan-South Korea tournament is still in memory. Exactly 24 years have passed since then, and we will finally appear on the world stage again.
Let's summarize what happened during this period with a table:
| Year |
Tournament |
Success |
Head Coach |
| 2002 |
World Cup |
3rd Place |
Şenol Güneş |
| 2006 |
Qualifiers |
Play-off loss |
Fatih Terim |
| 2010 |
Qualifiers |
Elimination |
Fatih Terim |
| 2014 |
Qualifiers |
Play-off loss |
Fatih Terim |
| 2018 |
Qualifiers |
Elimination |
Mircea Lucescu |
| 2022 |
Qualifiers |
Play-off loss |
Stefan Kuntz |
| 2026 |
Qualifiers |
Qualification! |
Montella |
Hakan Çalhanoğlu's Leadership Performance
As the National Team's captain, Hakan Çalhanoğlu played a key role in this success. With his magnificent free-kick goal and 2 assists in the Kosovo match, he led his team to victory. According to post-match statistics, Çalhanoğlu left the field with 92% pass accuracy, 3 key passes, and 5 ball recoveries.
The 30-year-old player who wears the Inter jersey has 20 goals and 15 assists in 87 matches for the national team, making him one of the team's most important names. Especially the leadership he has shown in the last 2 years has also motivated young players.
While football fans share this excitement, early bets for the World Cup have started on reliable betting sites like Raxcasino. Interesting odds are already being offered for Turkey's group stage performance.
Fans' Enthusiasm Spilled Into the Streets
With the final whistle of the match, spontaneous celebrations began in all cities, especially Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. Thousands of fans who gathered particularly on İstiklal Street celebrated until morning.
Notable details from the celebrations:
- 50,000 people gathered in Taksim Square
- Firework displays were held in 81 provinces
- The hashtag #WeMadeHistory became trending on social media
- The President and political leaders published congratulatory messages
- Turkish flags sold out, flag manufacturers started night shifts
In a statement from the Police Headquarters, it was noted that no negative incidents occurred during the celebrations, and the public displayed exemplary enthusiasm.
Big Goals for the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, will be held for the first time in history with the participation of 48 teams. This format change was one of the factors that increased Turkey's chances.
Head coach Montella said at the press conference: "We don't just want to participate, we want to get out of the group and reach the round of 16." The National Team's recent upward trajectory shows that this goal is realistic.
Football authorities and Raxcasino betting experts evaluate Turkey's chances of passing the group stage as 65%. Especially the development of young players and the leadership of experienced names increases confidence in the team.
Viral Moments on Social Media
Hakan Çalhanoğlu's tears at the airport reached 8 million views on TikTok. Especially his words "Mom, dad, we did it!" moved all of Turkey. 1.2 million people watched his Instagram live stream.
Other viral moments:
- Arda Güler's social media post received 5 million likes
- Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır's penalty save was 1st on Twitter
- Fans singing "Memleketim" in the stadium made international press
- Photo of young fan who entered the field after the match with Çalhanoğlu
- Head coach Montella's attempt to speak Turkish
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
When did Turkey last participate in the World Cup?
Turkey last participated in the 2002 Japan-South Korea World Cup and achieved great success by finishing 3rd. After 24 years since that date, they will appear in the World Cup again.
Where will the 2026 World Cup be held?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held for the first time in history under the joint hosting of 3 countries. 48 teams will participate in the tournament hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
How many goals has Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored for the national team?
Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu has scored 20 goals in 87 matches wearing the National Team jersey and made 15 assists. He increased this number to 21 with his goal in the Kosovo match.
What are the betting odds for the World Cup?
On Raxcasino and other reliable betting sites, Turkey's odds of passing the group stage have been set at 1.65. The odds of reaching the round of 16 in the tournament are at the 2.40 level.
When is the National Team's next match?
The Turkey National Football Team's next official matches will be friendly matches to be played in March 2025. A total of 8-10 preparation matches are planned until the World Cup.