A late second half strike sent Turkey into the decisive playoff match, setting up a high-stakes showdown on March 31 for a World Cup berth.
The Turkish national football team became the first side to reach the World Cup 2026 qualification playoff final.
In the semi-final, Turkey, thanks to defender Ferdi Kadioglu’s goal in the 53rd minute, beat Romania 1-0 at home.
The semifinal berth for the 2026 World Cup goes to Turkey, and on March 31 the team will face the winner of the Slovakia–Kosovo tie, to be held in Bratislava.
Note that the World Cup final tournament, featuring 48 teams, will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The first step toward the 2026 World Cup final
This achievement marks a significant advance for the Turkish national team in the qualifying phase, and the squad continues its journey in the qualifying tournament toward the World Cup.