Turkiye head coach Vincenzo Montella announced on Saturday, June 13, 2026, that his squad is fully prepared and motivated in Vancouver, Canada, for their opening FIFA World Cup match against Australia, ending a 24-year tournament absence.
The national team last participated in the global tournament in 2002, securing a historic third-place finish.
Group D also features upcoming matches against the United States and Paraguay for the Turkish side.
Speaking on the eve of the opening fixture, Montella emphasized the emotional weight of the tournament return, noting that the country has waited more than two decades for this moment with immense pride.
"This is the day before something that we have been waiting for 24 years, we are very emotional and we trust we are going to do well," said Montella, as quoted by Reuters.
The 51-year-old manager acknowledged the immense challenges of the global showpiece but stated the group remains focused on delivering strong performances for their supporters back home.
"We know how many challenges there are in the World Cup, but we want to enjoy it and we want to be proud, and we want to make our nation proud of us," he added.
The head coach stressed the strategic value of the opening game, noting that while it does not finalize the group outcomes, it establishes vital momentum for the rest of the campaign.
"The first game is always the more important, even though it's not the one that decides the final results because you can gain points in future games, but of course, I think of this game as a game that is going to be important and that is going to help in the future path of our team," he said, as quoted by Reuters.
Montella defended his current roster against historical criticism, clarifying that the modern players bear no responsibility for the lengthy qualification drought that preceded their arrival.
"I like telling my players that our success it's not their fault that Turkiye was not at the World Cup for 24 years, but they can be proud that we can be here again after 24 years and now they need to be playing at their best, give the game their all and just avoid thinking about the other stuff," he added.
