The Turkish national team has entered a crucial stage of preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Head coach Vincenzo Montella has announced the extended squad for the tournament.
The preliminary list includes 35 players. Later, 9 players will be cut from the final roster to form the core 26-man squad heading to the World Cup.
The goalkeepers include Altay Bayindir, Ersin Destanoğlu, Mert Günok, Muhammed Şengezer, and Uğurcan Çakır. Montella has sufficient experience and competition in this position. Especially the keepers playing in Europe provide important selection options for the team.
The defensive line includes names like Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Ahmetcan Kaplan, Çağlar Söyüncü, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Merih Demiral, Mert Müldür, Ozan Kabak, and Zeki Çelik. This list shows that Turkey relies on physical strength, experience, and players seasoned in European football for defense.
In midfield, Hakan Çalhanoğlu is expected to be one of the key figures. He will be joined by players such as Atakan Karazor, Demir Tıknaz, İsmail Yüksek, Kaan Ayhan, Orkun Kökçü, and Salih Özcan. Ball control, experience, and speed in transition are crucial in this line.
The attacking line is one of the most interesting areas. Players like Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, Barış Yılmaz, Can Uzun, Deniz Gül, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Yunus Akgün, and Yusuf Sarı significantly increase competition in Turkey's front line. Fans have high hopes, especially for young stars like Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız.
Turkey's extended squad for the 2026 World Cup:
Goalkeepers:
Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Ersin Destanoğlu (Beşiktaş), Mert Günok (Fenerbahçe), Muhammed Şengezer (İstanbul Başakşehir), Uğurcan Çakır (Galatasaray).
Defenders:
Abdülkerim Bardakcı (Galatasaray), Ahmetcan Kaplan (NEC), Çağlar Söyüncü (Fenerbahçe), Evren Elmalı (Galatasaray), Ferdi Kadıoğlu (Brighton), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Mert Müldür (Fenerbahçe), Mustafa Eskihellaç (Trabzonspor), Ozan Kabak (Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydin (Rizespor), Yusuf Akçiçek (Al-Hilal), Zeki Çelik (Roma).
Midfielders:
Atakan Karazor (Stuttgart), Demir Tıknaz (Braga), Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter), İsmail Yüksek (Fenerbahçe), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kökçü (Beşiktaş), Salih Özcan (Borussia Dortmund).
Forwards:
Aral Şimşir (Midtjylland), Arda Güler (Real Madrid), Barış Yılmaz (Galatasaray), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Deniz Gül (Porto), İrfan Kahveci (Kasımpaşa), Kenan Yıldız (Juventus), Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Fenerbahçe), Oğuz Aydın (Fenerbahçe), Yunus Akgün (Galatasaray), Yusuf Sarı (İstanbul Başakşehir).
As a reminder, the World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Turkey is preparing for this tournament with a squad that blends strong, young, and experienced players.
In short, Montella faces a choice: he must select the best 26 out of 35 players. This will not be easy, as there is competition in every line. But such competition makes the team stronger before a major tournament. Turkey is preparing for the World Cup not just to participate, but to make a statement.
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