He got hold of the phone immediately! The decision taken by President Erdogan, after the Turkey dam
Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Friday, March 27, 2026, 2:58 p.m. / Updated Friday, March 27, 2026, 3:01 p.m.
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (72 years old), contacted the national team by phone to congratulate them after the 1-0 win against Romaniaobtained in the semi-final of the play-off qualification for the 2026 World Championship. The head of state praised the success against the “tricolors” and wished the players success in the play-off final next week.
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Turkey will play Kosovo, in Pristina, in the final for the World Cup in the summer. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, from 21:45. At the same time, Romania will support a non-stakes friendly with Slovakia, in Bratislava
After the match in Istanbul, after which Turkey qualified for the play-off final, President Erdogan had a telephone conversation with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, with the president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu, with the coach Vincenzo Montella and the players of the national team.
Before the match, it was reported that he would be present at the Beşiktaş arena, to support the national team directly from the spot, but in the meantime he would have made the decision not to come. However, he was thinking of the players, whom he wanted to congratulate at the end of the match.
Erdogan called the dressing room directly to congratulate the Turkish team
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan / Photo: Imago
Erdogan initially congratulated TFF President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu for the team's performance, according to sondakika.com.
Later, via phone call, he congratulated coach Vincenzo Montella and the players for their performance throughout the 90 minutes and for the victory, which takes Turkey just 90 minutes from the final tournament.
The country's president wished success to the players for the decisive World Cup qualifying match, and the players and technical staff thanked President Erdogan for his support.
Present in the locker room after the game, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, and the president of the federation, İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu, also personally congratulated Vincenzo Montella and the players for the limited success against Romania.
