Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2026

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

Türkiye beat Kosovo to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup

by Daily Sabah with Agencies

ISTANBUL Mar 31, 2026 - 11:43 pm GMT+3
Turkey's forward #13 Deniz Gul (L) and Kosovo's defender #13 Kreshnik Hajrizi fight for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Kosovo and Turkey at the Fadil Vokrri stadium in Pristina on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Armend NIMANI / AFP)
Turkey's forward #13 Deniz Gul (L) and Kosovo's defender #13 Kreshnik Hajrizi fight for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Kosovo and Turkey at the Fadil Vokrri stadium in Pristina on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Armend NIMANI / AFP)
by Daily Sabah with Agencies Mar 31, 2026 11:43 pm

Türkiye secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a crucial away victory over Kosovo, thanks to a 53rd-minute goal from Kerem Aktürkoğlu.

Kosovo came close shortly before the half-hour mark but Türkiye goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır pushed a long-range ball from FisnikAsllani against the crossbar.

Türkiye scored in the 53rd from Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who put the finishing touch on an attempt from Orkun Kökçü. The goal gave them confidence and they held on reach the World Cup for the first time since 2002 when they reached the semi-finals.

The other play-off finals in Europe on Tuesday were Bosnia-Herzegovina v Italy and the Czech Republic v Denmark.

Türkiye will go into Group D with co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and Australia.

  • shortlink copied
  • KEYWORDS
    world cup qualifiers kosovo türkiye kerem aktürkoğlu football
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Once in a century: Australia's east hit by deadly floods
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021