The Turkish national football team secured a dominant 4–0 win over North Macedonia in an international friendly on Monday, delivering a confident performance at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul.
After the match, defender Mert Muldur said the squad is eagerly looking ahead to the World Cup, describing the team as increasingly unified and in strong form at the right stage of preparation.
The Turkish national football team will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after 24 years, set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, marking only the third appearance in the nation’s history.
Noting that North Macedonia were a difficult opponent, Muldur said the team was pleased with the result and the absence of injuries.
“It went very well. There were no injuries, and that’s the most important thing,” he said.
“We are continuing our training in a very good way and preparing for the World Cup in the best possible way. The excitement is slowly building. We are eagerly waiting for the World Cup.”
‘We want to win our opening match’ in World Cup
Türkiye controlled the game with fluid passing and sharp attacking play, comfortably breaking down their opponents and turning the fixture into a one-sided contest.
The result capped off a positive preparation period as the team continues its build-up abroad.
Muldur underlined his tactical flexibility during the match, having switched from right-back to left-back, and said he remains ready to adapt to any role required by the coaching staff.
He added that winning the opening group-stage match at the tournament will be the team’s key early objective.
“We want to win our opening match, as it is the most important one for us. Our first objective is to advance from the group stage. After that, God willing, we will take it step by step and aim to progress further,” Muldur said.
Winger Oguz Aydin also expressed pride in the performance, saying the squad is determined to leave a lasting mark on international football.
Türkiye’s first appearance in the World Cup came in 1954, when they exited in the group stage without leaving a significant mark.
Türkiye’s second qualification saw a completely different outcome, as Türkiye achieved a historic run at the 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, finishing third and securing their place among the tournament's standout teams.
