Turkey end 24-year World Cup drought with win over Kosovo

Turkey's Samet Akaydin, left, and Ozan Kabak observe astatine the extremity of the 2026 World Cup playoff semifinal soccer lucifer betwixt Turkey and Romania, successful Istanbul, Thursday. [AP]

Τurkey ended a 24-year wait to suffice for the World Cup by beating Kosovo 1-0 successful their playoff last connected Tuesday, sealing a instrumentality to soccer’s biggest stage for the archetypal clip since 2002 when they reached the semi-finals.

Forward Kerem Akturkoglu scored the lone extremity successful the 53rd minute, turning the shot successful from adjacent scope aft Orkun Kokcu’s shot, pursuing a driving tally from Kenan Yildiz down the left.

“Thank God. It has been 24 ⁠years. Some of us were not adjacent ⁠born the past clip we qualified, and some were too young to remember. We ever dreamed of moments similar this,” Akturkoglu told Turkish TV.

“We talked astir 2002 and the success there, ​we ever dreamed of it. Most ⁠of us don’t adjacent retrieve 2002. Now we will springiness the adjacent procreation something to imagination astir astatine the 2026 World Cup. We want ⁠to marque our state proud,” helium ‌added.

Turkey, ranked ⁠25th successful the world, had fallen abbreviated successful qualifying campaigns implicit the past two decades and arrived under unit to deliver, with manager Vincenzo Montella overseeing a squad blending emerging ​talents and experienced internationals.

“Emotionally I americium astatine the top. I americium incredibly proud. ‌I wouldn’t alteration my players for a thing. Anyone who does this occupation dreams of the World Cup, I americium incredibly grateful to my players. We person achieved our dream,” Montella told Turkish state quality bureau ​Anadolu.

“It is an unthinkable feeling, I cannot picture it successful words. The World Cup is the pinnacle,” helium added.

Turks took to the streets to observe the nationalist team reaching their third World Cup, waving flags ‌from honking cars ​and gathering connected main streets.

For Kosovo, ranked 79th and playing successful beforehand of a sold-out crowd, the decision brought an extremity to a singular ⁠run that had taken them to the brink ‌of a historical debut astatine a large tournament, little than a decennary aft joining FIFA ​and UEFA.

The hosts pushed guardant successful the closing stages, taking risks successful hunt of an equaliser and creating ‌several ⁠chances, ⁠but were unable to bushed Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir arsenic ​the visitors held on.

Turkey will look Australia, Paraguay and co-hosts the United States successful Group ​D of the World Cup. The tournament will besides ‌be hosted by Canada and Mexico. [Reuters]