The Turkey national football team have qualified for three world cups, but only appeared at two. In 1950 the side withdrew because of the financial cost of travelling to a world cup in South America. Turkey reached the semi-final in 2002.

The team’s first international match came in 1923, a 2-2 draw with Romania. In 1954 the side qualified for the world cup on a coin toss. After repeated draws with Spain, this was the method used to book their place. The Turkey national football team’s biggest win came in that tournament. A 7-0 win over South Korea. The side have matched this scoreline in 1949 and 1996.

The side also have the unwelcome statistic of recording their biggest loss in three separate occasions. The first 8-0 came against Poland in 1968. Then again in 1984 and 1987, both against England.

World cup history

1954

2002

2018

1954

Switzerland

The world cup was held in Switzerland in 1954, and was won for the first time by West Germany. The Turkey national football team began their campaign against the hosts. A 4-1 defeat, was followed by that record 7-0 win over South Korea. This put the side into a play-off for qualification from the group against West Germany. This time a 7-2 defeat ended Turkey’s tournament.

2002

Japan and South Korea

A full 48 years later the Turkey national football team returned to the world cup. Held for the first time in Asia, the competition was won for a record fifth time by Brazil. Turkey opened with a 2-1 defeat to the eventual champions. A 1-1 with Costa Rica followed, but a 3-0 win over China put them through in second place.

In the last 16 Turkey beat co-hosts Japan 1-0, to move onto a quarter-final with Senegal. A close 1-0 after extra-time win squeezed them into the semi-final, and a reunion with Brazil. Another close defeat, this time 1-0, put them into the third place play-off, where they beat the other co-hosts South Korea.

2018

Russia

The San Marino national football team have been drawn in Group C alongside Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, and Azerbaijan.

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