If the “tricolors” will prevail in Istanbul, Vincenzo Montella (51 years old), the Turkish coach, is as if he has left the first national team, according to Gazeta Sporturilur sources. The Turkish Football Federation does not consider any option other than qualifying for the World Cup.
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Turkey – Romania will be played on Thursday, March 26, from 19:00, match broadcast by Prima TV. If we win, we play the qualification final against Slovakia/Kosovo on March 31, 2026.
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Gazeta Sporturilor has 6 experienced reporters in Istanbul who will send the most important information, reports and a series of multimedia correspondence.
Failure to qualify for the North American World Championship would be a major setback for the Turkish Federation
The Turks have not participated in a World Championship for 24 years, since 2002when the team from the “Crescent Land” played the small final at the edition held in Japan and South Korea. A possible miss out on qualification in 2026, given the valuable generation at their disposal, but also the accessible opponents, would be considered a big disappointment.
This failure would also cancel the good run from the European Championship in 2024where Turkey reached the quarter-finals, being eliminated by the Netherlands, the same representative team that also ended the “tricolor” route in the round of 16 of the competition.
“Turkey have not qualified for a World Cup since 2002 and an elimination would put Montella's future in doubt. She would be perceived as a major failure and would most likely leave”, convey Gazeta sources.
Vincenzo Montella is the coach of Turkey since September 21, 2023. His contract with the Federation runs until August 31, 2028. So far, he has led Turkey in 29 matches, averaging 1.83 points per match: 16 wins, 5 draws and 8 losses. It is his second longest coaching adventure, 913 days, after his first term at Fiorentina (1094 days).
