{"id":2801,"date":"2026-03-31T21:52:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T21:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/2801\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T21:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T21:52:12","slug":"turkey-to-face-usmnt-at-world-cup-after-kosovo-playoff-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/2801\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkey to face USMNT at World Cup after Kosovo playoff win"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Turkey defeated Kosovo 1-0 in a World Cup playoff on Tuesday, clinching a berth in Group D alongside the U.S. men&#8217;s national team.<\/p>\n<p>Kerem Akt\u00fcrko\u011flu gave Turkey the lead early in the second half, tapping home on the doorstep after a scuffed shot from Orkun K\u00f6k\u00e7\u00fc.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>That was all the visitors needed as they advanced to the World Cup for the first time since 2002.<\/p>\n<p>The USMNT learned at the World Cup draw in December that it would face Paraguay and Australia in the group phase, but has been waiting to find out the identity of its third opponent.<\/p>\n<p>That team will be Turkey, which defeated Romania 1-0 in a semifinal on Thursday, March 26 before victory over Kosovo on Tuesday at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Turkey is ranked 23rd in FIFA&#8217;s world rankings, making it the second highest-ranked team in Group D behind the U.S. (15th).<\/p>\n<p>1 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">MetLife Stadium \u2013 East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0960a40cdc164dff4b8dd730da152ca3.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>1 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">MetLife Stadium \u2013 East Rutherford, New Jersey (hosting World Cup final)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/6ae8a6bf29ca8f1b00eb8a90d58adf1b.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">AT&amp;T Stadium \u2013 Arlington, Texas<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b7e51f1a4753dd471c19be6037be7cde.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>3 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Mercedes-Benz Stadium \u2013 Atlanta<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/e988b52b220949fa3307c6e7658ddcdc.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>4 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Arrowhead Stadium \u2013 Kansas City<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/d1cf8e8fb74095e07cd6c57a328eb8da.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>5 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Estadio BBVA \u2013 Monterrey, Mexico<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7bc0e27885eb8cb8263496fa46daa8ac.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>6 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Estadio Akron \u2013Guadalajara, Mexico<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0b6a47999758082d7b0fdf0f78c44ffe.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>7 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/253f1579a31632fdc71ee6e462713941.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>8 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">SoFi Stadium \u2013 Inglewood, California<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/afd3086d1dd3ce2cdb526a5565071e8f.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>9 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">BC Place \u2013 Vancouver, Canada<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3e5e2d3ca8970e17606879afe586aa71.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>10 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Hard Rock Stadium \u2013 Miami Gardens, Florida<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/7ae7dc6efd39239e27e7cd9ada93d37a.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>11 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dd475c3168129b416e6acb4e700f545f.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>12 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/45594a0ff30d55661a57eff8e8a0106f.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>13 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Levi&#8217;s Stadium \u2013 Santa Clara, California<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cecae1f96badf172a436ec7ba090958a.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>14 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Lincoln Financial Field \u2013 Philadelphia<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/6802aeea37e5913adfee18e8c2f55830.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>15 \/ 15<\/p>\n<p>What stadiums are hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Gillette Stadium \u2013 Foxborough, Massachusetts<\/p>\n<p>The USMNT and Turkey have faced off five times in their history, with each team winning two games and the other match ending in a draw.<\/p>\n<p>Most recently, Turkey defeated the USMNT 2-1 in a June 2025 friendly.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey&#8217;s win means the USMNT will enter the World Cup having faced all three of its group stage opponents within the last year. The U.S. defeated Australia in October and Paraguay in November.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Turkey World Cup group stage schedule<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">June 13 vs. Australia, BC Place &#8211; Vancouver, BC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">June 19 vs. Paraguay, Levi&#8217;s Stadium &#8211; Santa Clara, CA<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">June 25 vs. USMNT, SoFi Stadium &#8211; Los Angeles, CA<\/p>\n<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/soccer\/usmnt\/2026\/03\/31\/turkey-world-cup-playoff-usmnt\/89352841007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Turkey to face USMNT at World Cup after Kosovo win;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Turkey to face USMNT at World Cup after Kosovo win&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Turkey to face USMNT at World Cup after Kosovo win<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Turkey defeated Kosovo 1-0 in a World Cup playoff on Tuesday, clinching a berth in Group D alongside&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2802,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[41,15,497,3059,709,3058,945,3055,3057,3056],"class_list":{"0":"post-2801","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-europe","8":"tag-australia","9":"tag-european","10":"tag-kosovo","11":"tag-paraguay","12":"tag-pristina","13":"tag-the-world-cup","14":"tag-turkey","15":"tag-usmnt","16":"tag-world-cup","17":"tag-world-cup-draw"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2801"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2801\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}