The Turkish National Team joins a competitive Group D alongside Australia, Paraguay, and co-host United States. It marks a historic draw for Turkiye, as they have never faced any of these three opponents in World Cup play.

This is only the third time the nation has qualified for the global stage, following a group-stage exit in 1954 and a legendary third-place finish in 2002.

What to Expect from Turkiye in Group D

Turkiye’s path to the tournament was a test of resilience. After finishing second in their qualifying group behind Spain—beating out Georgia and Bulgaria—they navigated the high-stakes playoff bracket to silence any doubters.

Finishing the qualifying cycle with a 6-1-1 record, Turkiye enter the tournament as a “dark horse” capable of playing at a high level. While the talent gap between the teams in Group D appears narrow on paper, manager Vincenzo Montella will lean on his star-studded core to dictate the tempo.

The trio of Arda Guler, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Kenan Yildiz serves as the heartbeat of this squad. Their creative offensive play was the catalyst for Turkiye’s qualification, and against defensively disciplined sides like Paraguay and Australia, expect Turkiye to utilize their pace on the wings to stretch the pitch and create scoring chances.

However, the biggest hurdle in the group remains the United States. With a home-field advantage and a formidable attacking frontline featuring Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Gio Reyna, the U.S. is the clear favorite to win the group.

For Turkiye, the matchup against the Americans will likely decide who takes the top seed heading into the knockout rounds.

Turkiye’s fixture in Group D

Teams that finish second must go through a high-risk playoff route, making every early result critical. For Turkiye, the scenario is clear. A win keeps them on track for a top spot and avoids pressure later in the campaign.

Kosovo enter in a similar situation but with less margin for error. After reaching playoff contention in previous cycles, taking points here would be key to staying in the race for at least second place and keeping qualification hopes alive.

What happens if Turkiye beats Kosovo today?

If Turkiye defeat Kosovo today, they will officially qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining Group D alongside the USA, Paraguay, and Australia.

A victory in regulation or extra time secures the “Crescent-Stars” their first World Cup appearance since their historic third-place finish in 2002, ending a 24-year drought for the nation.

What happens if Turkiye and Kosovo tie today?

If the match is tied after 90 minutes, it will go into a 30-minute extra time period, and if the score remains level, a penalty shootout will determine who goes to the World Cup. In this winner-takes-all playoff format, there is no final draw.

A tie in regulation would push both squads to their physical limits. Kosovo come into this match after an exhausting 4-3 thriller against Slovakia, meaning fatigue could play a major role in the closing minutes. For Turkiye, a stalemate would test the nerves of a squad that carries the weight of immense national expectation.

What happens if Turkiye lose to Kosovo today?

If Turkiye lose today, they will be eliminated from 2026 World Cup contention, while Kosovo will qualify for the first World Cup in their history, joining Group D.

For Kosovo, a victory today would be the crowning achievement for a nation that only gained FIFA membership in 2016. Led by Franco Foda and the physical presence of striker Vedat Muriqi, “The Dardanians” have become the Cinderella story of these UEFA playoffs.

[Watch Kosovo vs Turki̇ye online in the US on Fubo]

This UEFA Qualifiers second-round final has quickly turned into one of the most unpredictable matchups in the bracket. Turkiye handled business as a slight favorite against Romania, but the real stunner came when Slovakia fell 4-3 to Kosovo.

Now, Kosovo sits one win away from its first-ever FIFA World Cup berth, while Turkey (who are the favorites for this series) aims to return for the first time since the 2002 FIFA World Cup in a wide-open final.

When will the Kosovo vs Turki̇ye match be played?

Kosovo play against Turki̇ye on Tuesday, March 31, in the Path C final of the World Cup qualifiers, with kickoff slated for 2:45 PM (ET).

Kosovo vs Turki̇ye: Time by State in the USA

ET: 2:45 PM
CT: 1:45 PM
MT: 12:45 PM
PT: 11:45 AM

How to watch Kosovo vs Turki̇ye in the USA

Catch the thrilling UEFA World Cup qualifiers showdown between Kosovo and Turki̇ye in the USA. Stream the action on Fubo. Other options: FOX Soccer Plus and ViX.

Türkiye were the overall best team in the game. Home advantage also played a factor as the crowd was loud in favor of the home team. Romania weren’t able to produce many options, while Türkiye could have scored more than just once. Still, the yellow squad was very close to tying the game by hitting the post.

With this result, Türkiye now face Kosovo, who beat Slovakia in their UEFA playoff game. Kosovo are ranked 79th in the FIFA World Rankings. For reference, Türkiye have the 25th slot in the FIFA World Rankings, putting them as prime favorites against their lowly-ranked opponent. Here’s how the UEFA 2026 World Cup playoffs work and how many teams will qualify.

Türkiye’s numbers under Vincenzo Montella

The Italian manager has 30 games as Türkiye’s manager. With the win over Romania, Montella has 17 wins, five draws, and eight losses. His team has scored 54 goals and allowed 41. Montella ended up having a good 2024 Euro, going to the quarterfinals and losing a nail-biter against Netherlands.

Prioritizing a 4-2-3-1 formation, though open to go for a 5-4-1, Montella likes straight-forward, accurate teams. In Türkiye, he can deploy that system to perfection thanks to his players’ skill sets. Montella has possession-based playmakers, as well as speedy wingers under his belt.

Who are Türkiye’s best players?

Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu are the team’s stars. Guler is the young, special playmaker. Calhanoglu is the experienced, creative distributor. Both have great understanding of how to play with each other as well.

Other noteworthy players are Juvetnus’ Kenan Yildiz, as well as Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz, who are electric wingers. If Türkiye manage to qualify to the 2026 World Cup, they’ll be a handful to deal with.

Both teams are now fighting in a knockout-style path where only a limited number of spots remain available for UEFA nations. Vincenzo Montella’s team reached this stage after finishing second in its qualifying group.

Romania, meanwhile, kept their hopes alive through the playoff route as well, earning their spot after their earlier results and ranking pathway. A win would move either team one step closer to the World Cup.

What happens if Türkiye beat Romania today?

If Türkiye beat Romania, they advance to the UEFA playoff final for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This matchup is a single-elimination semifinal in the UEFA qualifying playoffs, meaning there is no margin for error.

A win would send Türkiye into the next round, where they would face the winner of the Slovakia vs Kosovo clash in the final. That final is the last step in this pathway: the winner secures one of UEFA’s remaining spots at the World Cup.

What happens if Türkiye and Romania tie?

If Türkiye and Romania tie, the match goes to extra time and potentially penalties to decide a winner. Because this is a knockout playoff game, draws do not stand as final results.

If the score is level after 90 minutes, the teams will play extra time, and if needed, a penalty shootout will determine who advances. There is no scenario in which both teams progress.

This format reflects how UEFA structured the playoff paths: every round must produce a winner on the day. As a result, even if the match is tied late, both teams will still be fighting for a decisive outcome rather than settling for a point.

What happens if Türkiye lose to Romania today?

If Türkiye lose to Romania, they are eliminated from World Cup qualifying. A defeat in this semifinal would end their campaign immediately, as only the winner advances to the final round of the playoff path.

There are no second chances or repechage opportunities at this stage of UEFA qualifying. For Romania, meanwhile, a win would mean moving one step closer to ending their long wait for a World Cup appearance.

[Watch Türkiye vs Romania online in the US on Fubo]

All eyes will be on this tightly contested World Cup qualifying showdown as Turkey and Romania square off with their tournament hopes hanging in the balance. Turkey enters the matchup riding momentum from a solid qualifying run, delivering consistent performances but ultimately falling short of overtaking Spain to finish second in their group.

Romania, on the other hand, earned their place in this stage with a standout campaign in the UEFA Nations League and now look to build on that success with a statement win, aiming to stun a disciplined Turkish squad in what shapes up to be a must-watch clash.

When will the Türkiye vs Romania match be played?

Türkiye will face Romania on Thursday, March 26, in the Path C semifinal of the World Cup qualifiers, with kickoff slated for 1:00 PM (ET).

Türkiye vs Romania: Time by State in the USA

ET: 1:00 PM
CT: 12:00 PM
MT: 11:00 AM
PT: 10:00 AM

How to watch Türkiye vs Romania in the USA

Catch the thrilling UEFA World Cup qualifiers showdown between Türkiye and Romania in the USA. Stream the action on Fubo, with additional viewing choices available through DirecTV Stream, FS2 and ViX.

Spain opened the scoring early through Dani Olmo in the 4th minute, and Turkey responded with Daniel Gul in the 42nd minute. The second half saw S. Ozcan put Turkey ahead in the 54th minute, but Mikel Oyarzabal equalized in the 62nd, ending the match 2-2.

Following the draw, Spain finished first in Group E and secured direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Turkey, on the other hand, had to settle with a second-place finish and therefore a spot in the UEFA playoffs with 15 other teams.

Spain move forward

The draw confirms Spain’s consistency and dominance throughout the qualifying campaign, allowing the team to focus on preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Turkey haven’t been eliminated from World Cup contention though, as they will fight for one of the four spots at stake in March 2026.

With this result, although Turkey didn’t secure direct qualification for the next World Cup, they clinched a spot in the UEFA playoffs along with 15 other teams, where they’ll have to give it their all to earn a place among the world’s best.

Vincenzo Montella and his players clung to a slim hope of routing Spain in this match. In the end, that didn’t happen, but their hopes remain alive for the upcoming play-in tournament.

Meanwhile, Spain did their homework at home, finishing at the top of their group and achieving their main objective. With 16 points and an impressive goal tally, La Roja have secured their spot in the next World Cup.

UEFA playoffs in sight

After failing to catch Spain for the top spot in Group E, Turkey must now navigate the challenging playoff route to secure their place in the upcoming World Cup. Despite a commendable effort in the group stage, the team fell just short of automatic qualification and now faces a high-stakes, single-elimination tournament against other European hopefuls.

Chasing a third World Cup appearance

Turkey enter the World Cup playoffs with the clear goal of securing their third-ever qualification for the global tournament. Their history includes appearances in the 1954 and 2002, with the latter being a particularly memorable run where they reached the semifinals before ultimately finishing third.

Yamal was not even called up for this last qualifying window, as he recently underwent an intrusive pubis treatment to address the pubalgia that has bothered him for several weeks. His absence will be felt by Spain, and the situation raises concerns about how the injury may affect him moving forward.

Before the match against Georgia, head coach Luis de la Fuente spoke with Cadena SER and said: “Lamine is sad. He is a player committed to the national team and very loved. He left very sad; he was excited to play these games. He wants to have a great season with his club, and he also has the Finalissima and the World Cup in mind.”

De la Fuente added: “The priority here is the person, the player. There have been cases of players who have been here and then had to go home. We do not take risks with anyone because we prioritize the player, and we work with a great youth system.” His remarks highlighted how much the national team means to Yamal and how carefully the staff are managing his recovery.

How did Spain arrive to this match?

Spain defeated Georgia convincingly in Tbilisi (0–4), with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and goals from Mikel Zubimendi and Ferran Torres, in the penultimate matchday of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The result virtually secured their spot in the upcoming World Cup.

Spain extended their perfect run of wins without conceding a single goal on their road to the World Cup, and they set a new all-time record for the longest unbeaten streak in official matches. Under de la Fuente, they have reached 30 straight games without a loss.

Oyarzabal, the top scorer of the de la Fuente era with 21 goals in 50 appearances, delivered again with a penalty in the 11th minute and another finish in the 63rd. Zubimendi added a goal in the 22nd, and Torres scored in the 35th to complete Spain’s dominant win in a country where they have won all four matches they have ever played.

The Luis de la Fuente era began in 2023 and quickly delivered silverware, as Spain claimed the Nations League title. The momentum continued in 2024, when they won the European Championship and the Olympic gold medal. In 2025, they fell short in the Nations League final against Portugal, but the long-term objective remains unchanged: competing for the World Cup.

Spain enter this final matchday with multiple paths to qualification. A win or a draw officially confirms their place at the 2026 World Cup, and even a loss would not jeopardize their ticket unless Turkey produce an improbable result. Turkey not only must win but must do so by more than 14 goals to surpass Spain for direct qualification. In practical terms, Spain already have their spot secured.

Spain lineup vs Turkey

Luis de la Fuente will be without Lamine Yamal, who isn’t playing for Spain vs Turkey after undergoing a radiofrequency treatment to address a lingering pubalgia issue. He is also missing Pedri due to injury and Dean Huijsen, who experienced discomfort before the match against Georgia.

Spain’s starting XI: Unai Simon; Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Mikel Merino, Aleix Garcia, Fabian Ruiz; Mikel Oyarzabal, Yeremy Pino, Dani Olmo.

Turkey lineup vs Spain

Turkey arrive with a promising new generation that continues to develop at a high level. Arda Guler has grown increasingly influential at Real Madrid, while Kenan Yildiz has emerged as one of Juventus’ brightest young stars, giving the Turkish attack significant upside. Guler, however, is being rested as he starts on the bench.

Turkey’s lineup: Altay Bayındır; Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Samet Akaydin, Caglar Soyuncu, Ferdi Kadioglu; İrfan Can Kahveci, Salih Ozcan, Orkun Kokcu, Barış Alper Yılmaz; Deniz Gül.

[Watch Spain vs Türkiye online in the US on Fubo]

This matchup still carries plenty of intrigue, even if the stakes aren’t as dramatic as they look on paper. The top two teams in Group E meet in what should feel like a decisive showdown, but Spain’s massive +19 goal differential leaves Türkiye needing an improbable eight-goal victory to change the standings.

That hardly boosts the tension in the race for qualification, yet the contest remains compelling: Spain gets one final tune-up before the Finalissima, and Türkiye has a valuable opportunity to measure itself against an elite opponent with the playoffs approaching.

When will the Spain vs Türkiye match be played?

Spain take on Türkiye this Tuesday, November 18, for Matchday 5 of the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers. The match is set to kick off at 2:45 PM (ET).

Spain vs Türkiye: Time by State in the USA

ET: 2:45 PM
CT: 1:45 PM
MT: 12:45 PM
PT: 11:45 AM

How to watch Spain vs Türkiye in the USA

The UEFA World Cup Qualifiers matchup between Spain and Türkiye will be available for viewers in the USA via Fubo. Other options: ViX.