Turkey are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2002, when they famously finished third in South Korea and Japan. That 24-year wait is finally over, and they arrive at this tournament with arguably the most exciting generation of attacking players the country has ever produced.
Under Italian coach Vincenzo Montella, Turkey qualified through the European playoffs, finishing just two points behind Spain in their qualifying group before beating Romania and Kosovo 1-0 in successive playoff matches.
They are in Group D alongside the United States, Australia, and Paraguay, and they are nobody’s idea of an easy draw. However, they are one of the dark horses at the 2026 World Cup.
Here are the 10 best soccer players from Turkey at the 2026 World Cup.
1. Hakan Çalhanoğlu — Midfielder (Captain)
Position: Defensive/Central Midfielder
Age: 32 | Club: Inter Milan (Italy)
Hakan Çalhanoğlu is Turkey’s captain and the organisational heartbeat of the entire squad. With 105 caps and 22 international goals, he is the most experienced player in this squad and one of the best defensive midfielders in football right now.
At Inter Milan, he won the Serie A title in 2025/26 and continued to be one of the best deep-lying midfielders in Europe. His passing range is elite, his set pieces are dangerous, and his ability to control the tempo of a game from deep gives Turkey a platform that allows Güler, Yıldız, and Aktürkoğlu to do their damage further up the pitch.
He is one of the best passers in football and the player Montella’s entire system is built around.
2. Arda Güler — Forward
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Forward
Age: 21 | Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
Arda Güler is the most talked-about young player in Turkey and one of the most exciting attacking talents in world football. He plays his club football at Real Madrid in La Liga, which tells you everything about the level this 21-year-old is already operating at.
In 2025/26, Güler led all Madrid players for chances created with 111 key passes, and finished the season with 6 goals and 14 assists, cementing his place as one of the most important creative forces at the Bernabéu. He scored a stunning goal for Turkey against Georgia in qualifying and has 29 caps and 6 international goals.
He is one of the most visionary players in football, one of the best playmakers at this tournament, and the player every opponent in Group D will be designing their game plan around. At 21, this World Cup could be the moment he announces himself to a global audience as one of the best players in the world.
3. Kenan Yıldız — Forward
Position: Forward/Winger
Age: 21 | Club: Juventus (Italy)
Kenan Yıldız is Turkey’s other 21-year-old superstar and the player who produced the standout individual performance of the qualifying campaign. He averaged 3.5 completed dribbles per 90 minutes in qualifying, a figure only bettered among regulars by Jeremy Doku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
At Juventus in Serie A, he has been one of the most exciting attackers in Italian football, earning a rating of 7.75 this season and consistently producing moments of individual brilliance. With 28 caps and 5 international goals, he is direct, fearless, and capable of taking on and beating defenders with ease.
The combination of Yıldız and Güler gives Turkey one of the most dangerous young attacking partnerships at the entire 2026 World Cup. He is one of the most exciting generational talents in European football right now.
4. Kerem Aktürkoğlu — Forward
Position: Forward/Winger
Age: 27 | Club: Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
Kerem Aktürkoğlu is Turkey’s most prolific active attacker with 52 caps and 15 international goals, making him the highest scorer in this squad. He was outstanding during the Nations League campaign, scoring five goals, and continued his form into World Cup qualifying with a brace against Georgia.
After his time at Benfica in Portugal, he returned to Turkish football at Fenerbahçe, where he has been one of the most dangerous attackers in the Süper Lig. He is quick, clinical, and relentless. In Montella’s fluid 4-2-3-1, Aktürkoğlu provides the goal threat from wide that allows Güler and Yıldız the freedom to create.
He is one of the fastest and most direct wide forwards in Group D.
5. Merih Demiral — Defender
Position: Centre-Back
Age: 28 | Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
Merih Demiral is Turkey’s most physically imposing defender and one of the best centre-backs the country has produced in a generation. With 62 caps and 6 international goals, his goal return from defence reflects his aerial dominance and threat at set pieces.
He played for Juventus and Atalanta in Serie A before moving to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, and his experience in top European football gives Turkey the defensive foundation they need. He is aggressive, commanding in the air, and a leader at the back.
He is one of the best centre-backs Turkey have had in years and the defensive anchor Montella will rely on throughout Group D.
6. Ferdi Kadıoğlu — Defender
Position: Left-Back/Wing-Back
Age: 26 | Club: Brighton and Hove Albion (England)
Ferdi Kadıoğlu is Turkey’s most exciting full-back and one of the most dynamic defenders at this World Cup. He plays his club football at Brighton in the Premier League, which makes him one of the highest-profile club performers in this squad.
With 30 caps and 2 international goals, he is a modern, attack-minded left-back who combines defensive reliability with genuine attacking threat going forward. His Premier League experience and technical quality make him one of the best left-backs in this squad and one of the most complete full-backs Turkey have had in years.
7. Orkun Kökçü — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25 | Club: Beşiktaş (Turkey)
Orkun Kökçü is one of the most technically gifted midfielders in the Turkish squad and the player who provides creative balance alongside the more defensive-minded Çalhanoğlu. With 50 caps and 4 international goals, he is experienced beyond his 25 years and capable of playing multiple roles across the midfield.
After his time at Feyenoord and Benfica in Portugal, he returned to Turkish football at Beşiktaş. His ability to connect lines, carry the ball forward, and contribute with goals makes him the ideal complement to both Çalhanoğlu and the attackers ahead of him. He is one of the best central midfielders in this squad.
8. Çağlar Söyüncü — Defender
Position: Centre-Back
Age: 30 | Club: Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
Çağlar Söyüncü is one of Turkey’s most experienced defenders with 60 caps and the kind of defensive intelligence that comes from years competing at the top level. After his spell at Leicester City in the Premier League, he has returned to Turkish football at Fenerbahçe.
He is composed on the ball, strong in the air, and capable of playing out from the back under pressure. He partners Demiral in Turkey’s centre-back pairing and provides the calmer, more measured presence alongside his more aggressive partner. He is one of Turkey’s most reliable defenders heading into this tournament.
9. Zeki Çelik — Defender
Position: Right-Back
Age: 29 | Club: Roma (Italy)
Zeki Çelik is Turkey’s first-choice right-back and a player with significant Serie A experience at Roma. With 61 caps and 3 international goals, he is one of the most experienced outfield defenders in the squad and a key figure in how Turkey attack down the right side.
He is energetic, tenacious, and contributes effectively in both phases. His experience playing in Italy’s top flight means he is comfortable against some of the best attackers in the world, which will be tested in Group D against the United States and Australia. He is one of the best full-backs Turkey have produced.
10. Can Uzun — Forward
Position: Forward
Age: 20 | Club: Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
Can Uzun is the most exciting young forward in this squad and the player who earned his place in the final 26 by scoring in Turkey’s 4-0 friendly win over North Macedonia just days before the squad announcement. At just 20 years old and with 6 caps to his name, his inclusion is a genuine statement of intent from Montella.
He plays in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt and is a direct, powerful, and technically sharp attacker who can operate through the middle or from wide areas. He is one of the youngest players at the 2026 World Cup and one of the most exciting young talents European football has right now.
Conclusion
Turkey arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 24 years and they arrive with a squad full of quality, youth, and genuine attacking threat. Çalhanoğlu leads and controls, Güler creates, Yıldız dazzles, and Aktürkoğlu scores.
Group D is competitive, but Turkey have the talent to go deep in this tournament and their exciting young players make them one of the most watchable sides at the entire World Cup.
Other players worth watching include Barış Alper Yılmaz, Salih Özcan, Altay Bayındır, and İrfan Can Kahveci.
Who do you think will be Turkey’s standout player at the 2026 World Cup? Let us know in the comments!
