Turkey Edges Romania 1-0, Eyes World Cup Spot

Guler's masterclass sends Turkey to play-off final | Türkiye futbol X

Turkey defeats Romania 1-0 in Istanbul, with Ferdi Kadioglu scoring the decisive goal. The win sets up a play-off final for the ages, with Turkey looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

Romania's hopes were dashed as they failed to find the net, ending their World Cup qualifying campaign...

Turkey's one win away from the World Cup. Guler and Kadioglu's combo helped secure a narrow 1-0 win over Romania in Istanbul, putting them on the cusp of a first finals appearance since 2002.

Romania hadn't won away in a year (D1, L2), but they gave Turkey a run for their money. Mircea Lucescu's side knew they'd need to beat the hosts to progress, but it wasn't to be.

The travelling Romanian side were immediately put on the back foot, as they weren't made to feel welcome at the Tupras Stadium. Boos and whistles rang out with every touch of the ball, courtesy of a fervent home crowd. Turkey dominated possession in the early passages, probing patiently for an opening. Ferdi Kadioglu provided plenty of energy down the left, though without creating a clear opening just yet.

At the other end, Ianis Hagi’s miskick wasted a promising shooting chance. Shortly before, Vlad Dragomir struck the underside of the crossbar from close range, though the assistant’s flag was up for an offside in the build-up.

Turkey had a worrying trend of scoring before the hour mark, having netted seven of their last eight goals in that timeframe. Yet, with half of that time elapsed, the game remained goalless. The home side had momentum, though, and their best chance before the interval showcased their attacking flair. Kenan Yildiz won the ball high up the pitch, charged into the box, and pulled it back for Arda Guler. Unfortunately for Turkey, Guler's curling first-time shot couldn't find the back of the net.

Dolmabahçe'de zafer #BizimÇocuklar'ın! 💪#BizimÇocuklar🇹🇷 | #TURROU | #FIFAWorldCup | #TürkÖndeTürkİleri pic.twitter.com/asEU01xsi5

— Türkiye #BizimÇocuklar 🇹🇷 (@MilliTakimlar) March 26, 2026

The second-half pattern of play was much like the first, with Turkey pushing for a breakthrough. Romania managed to hold firm until the 53rd minute, when a searching long ball from Arda Guler proved decisive. The ball found Ferdi Kadioglu, whose well-timed run ended with a composed finish, slipping the ball through Ionut Radu's legs.

Romania pushed hard for an equalizer immediately after the restart, but Turkey looked more likely to score next. Yildiz's fierce effort bent onto the crossbar, causing a moment of panic for the visitors.

Despite the pressure, Romania held on, buoyed by the fact that they'd scored in eight straight away games. But the tension was palpable as Güler's effort hit the crossbar at the opposite end, and then Valentin Mihaila's shot pinged off the inside of the post - from an offside position, at least.

Romania's hopes were dashed as they failed to find the net, ending their World Cup qualifying campaign short. The 28-year wait for a return to the WC continues for at least another four years.

Turkey, meanwhile, marches on with an eighth win in 11 home matches (D2, L1). They're through to a winner-takes-all away encounter against either Slovakia or Kosovo, with a third World Cup appearance within their grasp.