Kerem Akturkoglu was the hero for Turkiye as they booked their place at the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Kosovo in Tuesday's qualification play-off finals.
2026 World Cup qualification Europe
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Match Report
The Fenerbahce forward scored the winner in the 53rd minute at Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, ending Turkiye's 24-year wait to return to the World Cup finals.
Turkiye started on the front foot as Kenan Yildiz, Hakan Calhanoglu and Akturkoglu all got shots off in the opening 15 minutes, but it was Kosovo who went closest in the first half as Fisnik Asllani saw his effort tipped onto the crossbar.
Tensions rose just before the break as Akturkoglu and Albian Hajdari faced off, firing up the home crowd, though they were silenced eight minutes into the second half as Akturkoglu turned Orkun Kokcu's mishit shot into the bottom-left corner.
Turkiye pushed to add a second and almost did so through Yildiz after the hour mark, but his curling effort was pushed well away by Arijanet Muric in the Kosovo goal.
The hosts absorbed the pressure and gave everything in hopes of taking the match to extra time, but their best chance, which fell the way of Florent Muslija on the edge of the box, flew just wide of the left post as Turkiye booked their trip to North America.
Data Debrief: Guler and Yildiz shine again
There was not much to separate the two sides in the expected goals (xG) battle in the end, with Kosovo producing 1.03 xG from 11 shots to Turkiye's 1.21 from 12 attempts, with both sides registering two shots on target each.
However, Real Madrid's Arda Guler and Juventus' Yildiz were the difference makers.
Yildiz, who played a crucial role in Turkiye's winner, completed the most dribbles (four) and registered the most touches in the box (10) of any player, while Guler created the most chances (three).
Turkiye will now face the United States, Paraguay and Australia in Group D at the World Cup; the last time Turkiye featured at the finals was in 2002, when they finished third overall.
Match Events
1' Match Event for Kosovo vs Turkey
9' Highlight from Kosovo vs Turkey
15' Highlight from Kosovo vs Turkey
28' Match Event for Kosovo vs Turkey
53' GOAL! Kosovo 0-1 Turkey (Kerem Aktürkoğlu)
66' Match Event for Kosovo vs Turkey
Line-ups
Kosovo XI: Vedat Muriqi, Mërgim Vojvoda, Rexhbecaj, Florent Muslija, Arijanet Murić, Lumbardh Dellova, Kreshnik Hajrizi, Veldin Hodza, Albian Hajdari, Fisnik Asllani, Dion Gallapeni
Subs: Berisha, Fidan Aliti, Milot Rashica, Hadergjonaj, Visar Bekaj, Edon Zhegrova, Amir Saipi, Ermal Krasniqi, Ilir Krasniqi, Baton Zabergja, Lindon Emërllahu, Albion Rrahmani
Turkey XI: Calhanoglu, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Zeki Çelik, Uğurcan Çakır, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Ozan Kabak, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Orkun Kökçü, İsmail Yüksek, Güler, Yıldız
Subs: Mert Günok, Kaan Ayhan, İrfan Can Kahveci, Atakan Karazor, Samet Akaydin, Özcan, Altay Bayındır, Akgun, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Mert Müldür, Eren Elmalı, Deniz Gül