Türkiye’s National Football Team will take on Bulgaria in Bursa in their fifth match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group E, needing points to make sure of a top-two finish and secure a place in the play-offs. The match will be played at Ataturk Sports Complex Matli Stadium, kicking off at 08:00 p.m. local time and broadcast live on Turkish TV channel TV8, while the group’s other fixture will see Georgia host leaders Spain at the same time.
Before this round of games, Spain sit on top of Group E with four wins from four and 12 points, while Türkiye are second on 9 points and Georgia are third on 3. Bulgaria are yet to collect a point and lie at the bottom of the standings. Any points gained by Türkiye against Bulgaria will guarantee that the national side end the group stage in the top two and therefore claim at least a play-off berth.
Merih Demiral (3) of Türkiye celebrates with his teammates after he scores a goal during 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group E football match between Türkiye and Georgia at Kocaeli Stadium in Kocaeli, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2025. (AA Photo)
European route to 2026 World Cup shaped by play-offs
The 2026 World Cup will be staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with 48 teams involved in the final tournament. From Europe, 16 national teams will take part after the qualifying campaign comes to an end in November.
According to the format laid out for the European qualifiers, the 12 group winners will book their tickets directly to the World Cup. The remaining four European places will then be decided in March 2026 through play-offs, which will bring together the 12 group runners-up and four more national teams advancing from the UEFA Nations League. These 16 teams will compete for the last four available European slots at the finals.
National team step out for their 646th international
The Bulgaria match will also mark another milestone for the Turkish national team, as the side play their 646th international fixture in 102 years. Over that period, Türkiye have contested 645 games, 358 of them official and 287 friendly. The national team have recorded 254 wins, 150 draws and 241 defeats, with one of the victories awarded by forfeit.
Across these matches, Türkiye have played 277 times away from home, 278 times on their own soil and 90 times on neutral grounds. Over the years, the team have scored 891 goals, three of them through forfeit decisions, and have conceded 924. The national side have faced opponents from 92 different countries, with 559 matches against European teams, 34 against Asian sides, 24 against African nations, 25 against teams from the Americas and 3 against representatives of Oceania.
The only forfeit win in this history came against Greece. A friendly match played on 17 November 2015 at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium originally ended 0-0, but around six months later FIFA decided to award a 3-0 result to Türkiye after ruling that Greece had fielded an ineligible player. On the other hand, a 6-1 win away to Kosovo on 21 May 2014 is not counted in the official statistics, as Kosovo were not yet a member of FIFA and UEFA on that date.
Head coach of Türkiye Vincenzo Montella leads the training session of Türkiye’s National Football Team for tomorrow’s match against Bulgaria in Bursa, their fifth match in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers in Istanbul, Türkiye, Nov. 14, 2025. (AA Photo)
Montella era continues with 28th test
The Bulgaria game will be the 28th match for the national team under Italian head coach Vincenzo Montella. Since he took charge, Türkiye have played 27 matches, 20 of them official and 7 friendlies, and have built up a record of 15 wins, 4 draws and 8 defeats. During this period, the team have found the net 49 times and have let in 39 goals.
Montella’s tenure has included European Championship qualifiers, UEFA Nations League fixtures, Euro 2024 matches in Germany, friendly games against European and American teams, and the current World Cup qualifying campaign. Among the recent results in Group E, Türkiye have beaten Georgia 3-2 away, lost 6-0 at home to Spain, won 6-1 away to Bulgaria and defeated Georgia 4-1 at home, carrying them into the Bulgaria rematch in a strong position in the standings.
Scottish officiating team appointed for Bursa clash
The match in Bursa will be overseen by a Scottish refereeing team. Referee Nicholas Walsh will take charge on the pitch, assisted on the touchlines by Francis Connor and Daniel McFarlane, who are also from Scotland. The fourth official role will be filled by another Scottish referee, Donald Robertson.
Players of Türkiye’s National Football Team train for tomorrow’s match against Bulgaria in Bursa, their fifth match in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers in Istanbul, Türkiye, Nov. 14, 2025. (AA Photo)
Türkiye squad blends European experience and domestic form
The Turkish Football Federation has named a squad that combines players based at major European clubs with others in form in the domestic Super Lig. In goal, Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Mert Gunok (Besiktas), Muhammed Sengezer (RAMS Basaksehir) and Ugurcan Cakir (Galatasaray) have been called up.
In defence, head coach Montella will be able to call on Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Caglar Soyuncu and Mert Muldur (Fenerbahce), Emirhan Topcu (Besiktas), Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Samet Akaydin (Caykur Rizespor), Zeki Celik (Roma) and Mustafa Eskihellac (Trabzonspor).
The midfield unit includes Atakan Karazor (Stuttgart), Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas) and Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund), giving the team a blend of playmakers, ball-winners and versatile options.
In attack, Türkiye will look to the creativity and finishing of Aral Simsir (Midtjylland), Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Baris Alper Yilmaz (Galatasaray), Deniz Gul (Porto), Irfan Can Kahveci and Kerem Akturkoglu (both Fenerbahce), Oguz Aydin (Fenerbahce), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus) and Yusuf Sari (RAMS Basaksehir).
Players for the Bulgarian national team prepare to face Croatia in a friendly in March 2022. (Photo via Simon Holmes)
Bulgaria arrive with 24-man squad for Group E test
Bulgaria will travel to Türkiye with a 24-man squad selected by head coach Alexander Dimitrov. In goal, Dimitar Mitov (Aberdeen), Alex Bozhev (Slavia Prag) and Dimitar Evtimov (Botev Vratsa) have been called up.
The defensive options are Atanas Chernev (Estrela da Amadora), Kristian Dimitrov (Levski Sofya), Rosen Bozhinov (Royal Antwerp), Martin Georgiev (Slavia Sofia), Viktor Popov (Korona Kielce), Christian Petrov (Heerenveen) and Stefan Velkov (Vejle).
In midfield, Dimitrov has turned to Ilia Gruev (Leeds United), Filip Krastev (Oxford United), Andrian Kraev (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Kristian Stoyanov (Slavia Sofia), Stanislav Shopov (Osijek), Ivaylo Chochev (Ludogorets) and Ivan Yordanov (Ludogorets).
The attacking line features Marin Petkov (Levski Sofya), Stanislav Ivanov (Ludogorets), Georgi Rusev (CSKA), Zdravko Dimitrov (Sipay Bodrum), Kiril Despodov (PAOK), Martin Minchev (Cracovia) and Vladimir Nikolov (Korona Kielce), as Bulgaria try to pick up their first points of the Group E campaign in Bursa.
November 15, 2025 03:42 AM GMT+03:00
