Sports
Güler, Yıldız spearhead Montella’s 35-man Türkiye World Cup squad
Head coach Vincenzo Montella unveiled a 35-man provisional roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, signaling the next step in the country’s resurgence after a 24-year absence from football’s biggest stage.
The Italian coach leaned heavily on versatility, consistency and dressing-room chemistry as he assembled a squad capable of competing against the world’s elite in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Montella’s selections reflected more than form alone. Age profile, tactical flexibility, fitness levels and even off-field influence all played a role as Türkiye began shaping a squad they hope can revive memories of their unforgettable 2002 World Cup run.
Young talents were pushed to the forefront, while experienced figures were retained to steady the group through the pressure of a month-long tournament.
Players capable of operating in multiple positions were especially valued, giving Montella the tactical freedom he has relied on since transforming the national side after taking charge in 2023.
Türkiye’s preparations will begin with players receiving several days of rest before reporting for camp on May 22, while the full training program officially starts on May 29.
Two warm-up matches have already been scheduled: against North Macedonia national football team in Istanbul on June 1 and Venezuela national football team in Fort Lauderdale on June 7.
The Crescent-Stars enter Group D alongside hosts United States men’s national football team, Australia national football team and Paraguay national football team, with expectations steadily growing around a generation many in Türkiye believe can restore the nation’s standing on the global stage.
Montella’s emphasis on continuity was evident throughout the squad. Veterans such as Çağlar Söyüncü, Mert Günok and İrfan Can Kahveci earned places largely because of their reliability and leadership within the group. The coaching staff also weighed dressing-room presence heavily, viewing team harmony as critical in a tournament environment.
Notable omissions underlined the ruthless competition for places. Semih Kılıçsoy reportedly missed out because of limited playing time and concerns over fitness, while Bertuğ Yıldırım was squeezed out due to depth in attacking positions already occupied by players such as Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Deniz Gül.
The goalkeeping department blends experience with competition for the No. 1 shirt. Uğurcan Çakır enters camp as the likely first-choice goalkeeper after another commanding season, while Altay Bayındır brings valuable Premier League experience from Manchester United F.C.
Veteran shot-stopper Mert Günok adds leadership and composure, with Ersin Destanoğlu and Muhammed Şengezer providing depth and competition.
Defensively, Montella has assembled a physically strong and tactically flexible unit. Çağlar Söyüncü, Merih Demiral and Ozan Kabak offer international experience and aerial dominance in central defense, while Ferdi Kadıoğlu continues to grow into one of Türkiye’s most complete modern full-backs after impressing in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Zeki Çelik and Mert Müldür bring versatility on both flanks, while younger names such as Ahmetcan Kaplan and Yusuf Akçiçek represent the next generation of Turkish defenders.
At the heart of midfield remains captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, whose leadership, passing range and dead-ball quality continue to shape Türkiye’s identity. Alongside him, Orkun Kökçü provides energy and creativity between the lines, while Salih Özcan and İsmail Yüksek add balance and defensive steel in midfield transitions. Bundesliga-based midfielder Atakan Karazor earned recognition for his relentless work rate, and young talents such as Demir Ege Tıknaz and Aral Şimşir underline Montella’s commitment to youth development.
Few players embody the excitement around this squad more than Arda Güler. The Real Madrid CF playmaker arrives at the tournament as one of the brightest young stars in world football, capable of changing matches with a single moment of quality.
Türkiye’s attack is packed with pace, movement and unpredictability. Kenan Yıldız has rapidly emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards at Juventus FC, while Kerem Aktürkoğlu remains the emotional spark of the team after scoring the decisive playoff winner that sent Türkiye to the World Cup.
Barış Alper Yılmaz offers relentless pressing and direct running, Yunus Akgün brings creativity in wide areas, and rising striker Deniz Gül continues to develop at FC Porto. Young forward Can Uzun is also viewed as one of the squad’s breakout candidates after adapting quickly to Bundesliga football.
Montella’s side qualified for the World Cup by finishing behind Spain in their European qualifying group before surviving the playoffs with victories over Romania and Kosovo. Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s winner in the playoff final sealed Türkiye’s long-awaited return to the competition and further strengthened belief in a squad that has steadily matured since its run to the UEFA Euro 2024 quarterfinals.
The final roster will be trimmed from 35 players to FIFA’s 26-man limit before the tournament begins, meaning difficult decisions still await Montella. Yet the broader picture is already clear.
Fenerbahçe are closing in on the signing of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku after reaching an agreement with Napoli on the transfer and personal terms with the 33-year-old forward.
Lukaku is expected to travel to Istanbul to complete his medical examination before signing a two-year contract with the Turkish club, according to reports in Türkiye and Italy.
Reports on Wednesday indicated that only Lukaku’s signature remained before the transfer could be completed.
The Belgian striker is expected to arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday or Thursday to undergo medical checks and then sign the official contract.
Fenerbahçe have reportedly agreed to pay Napoli an initial fee of slightly more than 6 million euros, with the package potentially rising by several million euros through performance-related bonuses and other incentives.
Transfer reports from Italy and Türkiye have also indicated that Lukaku has agreed to personal terms, with his annual earnings expected to be in the range of 8 million to 10 million euros, depending on how bonuses and other elements of the deal are calculated.
The move would bring an end to Lukaku’s two-year spell at Napoli. He joined the Italian club permanently from Chelsea in 2024 for a reported fee of about 30 million euros and helped Napoli win the Serie A title in the 2024-25 season.
His second season in Naples was far less productive, however, with recurring muscle and thigh problems limiting his appearances and affecting his contribution.
For Fenerbahçe, the deal represents a major addition to an attack already being built around high-profile players and ambitions of competing on multiple fronts.
Lukaku brings a physical presence that few forwards in the Süper Lig can match. At 1.91 meters, he offers strength, aerial ability, hold-up play and a proven scoring record, while his experience in the Premier League, Serie A and European competitions could prove valuable as Fenerbahçe pursue success at home and in Europe.
The Belgium international remains his country’s all-time leading scorer, with 93 goals in 132 appearances as of mid-2026. His club career has included spells at Anderlecht, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Roma and Napoli.
His most successful period came at Inter, where he played a central role in the club’s Serie A title-winning campaign in 2020-21. He has also enjoyed prolific spells in England, particularly during his time at Everton.
Lukaku’s arrival would give Fenerbahçe another experienced option in a demanding season that includes the Süper Lig and European competition. The club are also pursuing Champions League qualification after advancing past Sturm Graz and moving into the playoff round against Lyon.
Fenerbahçe are scheduled to face Lyon in the playoff round, with the first leg in Istanbul later this month. Qualification for the Champions League league phase could have further implications for the club’s transfer plans.
The Yellow Canaries are also reportedly set to pursue a high-profile left winger if they qualify for the Champions League, suggesting the club’s transfer business may not end with Lukaku.
Beşiktaş will look to complete the job against Hradec Kralove on Thursday when the Czech side visits Istanbul for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie.
Beşiktaş hold a 1-0 advantage from last week’s first leg in the Czech Republic and will advance to the playoff round with a win or draw at Tüpraş Stadium.
The winner will move one step closer to the Europa League league phase, while the loser will continue its European campaign in the Conference League playoff round.
Semih Kılıçsoy gave Beşiktaş the advantage in the 80th minute last week, four minutes after coming off the bench. The visitors had already been reduced to 10 men when Kassoum Ouattara was sent off for a second yellow card in the 71st minute, but they defended their lead to secure a valuable away victory and another clean sheet.
The result continued Beşiktaş’s strong defensive start to their European campaign. They have not conceded in any of their three qualifying matches this season, having previously eliminated Midtjylland 3-0 on aggregate with clean sheets in both legs.
Another shutout in Istanbul would put Vincenzo Italiano’s side in a strong position to advance. Beşiktaş also have home-field advantage, having beaten Midtjylland 1-0 at home in the previous round.
With the Turkish Super Lig season set to begin Friday, Italiano can keep his attention on European competition and securing Beşiktaş’s place in the next round.
Hradec Kralove, however, will arrive in Istanbul knowing the first leg could easily have produced a different result.
The Czech side created four big chances and put nine shots on target, but goalkeeper Alexander Nübel made eight saves to preserve Beşiktaş’s narrow advantage.
Hradec responded at the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Banik Ostrava in the Czech First League, with Tom Slončík scoring both goals. The result gave David Horejš’s side seven points from its opening three league matches and offered a boost ahead of the difficult trip to Istanbul.
But Hradec now face a simple requirement: They must score if they are to keep their Europa League hopes alive. Beşiktaş have yet to concede in Europe this season, while Hradec are trying to reach the main stage of a UEFA competition for the first time since their appearance in the 1995-96 Cup Winners’ Cup.
European history
Thursday’s match will be Beşiktaş’s 262nd in European competition. The Turkish club have recorded 100 wins, 50 draws and 111 losses in their previous 261 matches, scoring 352 goals and conceding 395.
It will also be their 131st European home match. Beşiktaş have won 65, drawn 26 and lost 39 of their previous 130 games at home in UEFA competition, scoring 201 goals and conceding 150.
Against Czech opposition, Beşiktaş have won three of their seven previous meetings, along with one draw and three defeats.
Their first meeting with a Czech club came against Slavia Prague in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup. Beşiktaş won 4-2 at home before losing 1-0 away to advance on aggregate.
They faced Sparta Prague in the 2003-04 Champions League group stage, winning 1-0 in Istanbul before losing 2-1 in Prague. In the 2010-11 Europa League qualifying rounds, they defeated Viktoria Plzen 3-0 at home and drew 1-1 away.
Last week’s 1-0 victory over Hradec was their most recent meeting with a Czech opponent.
Team news
Beşiktaş have no fresh injury concerns following the first leg, but Ouattara is suspended after being sent off.
Kılıçsoy could be rewarded with a starting place after making an immediate impact off the bench in the Czech Republic. The forward replaced Vaclav Cerny in the 76th minute and scored the winning goal four minutes later.
Wilfred Ndidi is another player pushing for a starting role after coming on for Orkun Kökçü last week.
Hradec have a longer list of absentees. Tomas Wiesner and Jakub Kucera remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Tomas Petrasek is dealing with a calf problem.
Adam Binar, Viktor Zentrich and Juraj Chvatal are also unavailable. Adam Vlkanova remains doubtful as he continues to recover from illness.
Slončík will be one of Hradec’s biggest attacking threats after his two-goal performance against Banik Ostrava. Mick van Buren and Ondrej Mihalik are expected to provide support in attack.
What is at stake
If Beşiktaş eliminate Hradec, they will face Kauno Zalgiris of Lithuania in the Europa League playoff round.
Kauno Zalgiris reached the playoff round after losing both legs of their Champions League third qualifying-round tie against Dinamo Zagreb, 5-0 and 2-1.
If Beşiktaş fail to overcome Hradec, they will drop into the Conference League playoff round, where they would face Panathinaikos.
Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo and his longtime partner Georgina Rodriguez tied the knot Tuesday, marking a new chapter in their relationship, his representatives confirmed.
Ronaldo, 41, shared a photo of the couple’s hands with their wedding bands and the caption: “C (heart) G” on his Instagram account.
The ceremony took place in the Portuguese coastal resort of Cascais, near Lisbon, the Brunswick Group managing the player’s public relations told AFP.
Their five children attended the “private and intimate” ceremony, the agency added.
The couple tied the knot exactly one year after Rodriguez, a 32-year-old influencer, announced their engagement on Instagram.
Ronaldo, who played for Portugal at the World Cup this summer, currently plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward won the Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player five times.
Panathinaikos Basketball Club owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos wants to bring three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic to Athens, with the Denver Nuggets superstar potentially joining the Greek club for the 2027-28 season.
Giannakopoulos, whose net worth has been estimated at between $500 million and $1.9 billion, said on the “Euro Insiders” podcast, published Tuesday, that he approached the Nuggets about buying out Jokic’s contract and bringing the Serbian star to Greece.
“People are going to say, ‘OK, now he’s joking,’” Giannakopoulos said. “I did make a very serious proposal this year, both to his team and to him. I got a rejection. I know that he has one more year (on his) contract.”
Technically, Jokic has two years remaining on his contract. According to Spotrac, he is due to be paid $59,033,114 this season and $62,841,702 next season, while the 2027-28 season is a player option.
“When I asked, he had a certain contract running,” Giannakopoulos said. “This was his last year. I tried to buy out his last year. They didn’t even, I mean, it took a few seconds to say, ‘Who? Greece? Where? What? Bye,’ from his team. But … let’s wait until next year.”
Jokic, 31, has spent all 11 of his NBA seasons with the Nuggets and has averaged 22.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists while leading the franchise to its only NBA championship in 2022-23.
Jokic has averaged a triple-double in each of the past two seasons. Oscar Robertson, who did so in 1961-62, and Russell Westbrook, who accomplished the feat four times, are the only other players to average a triple-double for a full season.
Last season in the EuroLeague, Panathinaikos went 22-16 to finish seventh among 20 teams before losing to Valencia Basket in the first round of the playoffs.
Former NBA players including Jerian Grant, Juancho Hernangomez, Kendrick Nunn and Guerschon Yabusele are listed on Panathinaikos’ preseason roster.
South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL has postponed two continental club matches in Colombia following a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 164 people and caused widespread destruction across the country.
Deportes Tolima’s Copa Libertadores round of 16 first-leg match against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle, scheduled for Tuesday in Ibague, and Wednesday’s Copa Sudamericana clash between Independiente Santa Fe and Argentina’s River Plate in Bogota have both been suspended.
CONMEBOL said new dates and venues for the matches would be announced later.
The decision came as Colombia continued to deal with the aftermath of Monday’s earthquake, which struck western Colombia and caused severe damage in several parts of the country.
The disaster prompted a major rescue and relief operation as authorities assessed collapsed buildings and other damaged infrastructure.
“In these difficult times, CONMEBOL extends its affection and support to all of Colombia and, especially, to the great Colombian football family,” the governing body said in a statement.
“In light of this exceptional situation, and to ensure everyone’s safety and respect for the victims, the matches are temporarily suspended.”
The postponements affect two of Colombia’s biggest clubs on the South American stage.
Tolima were due to host Independiente del Valle at the Estadio Manuel Murillo Toro in Ibague in the first leg of their Libertadores knockout tie. Santa Fe were scheduled to welcome River Plate to Bogotá’s Estadio Nemesio Camacho, commonly known as El Campin, for the opening leg of their Sudamericana round of 16 series.
With the earthquake disrupting normal activity across western and central Colombia, CONMEBOL opted against proceeding with the fixtures while rescue and recovery efforts remained underway.
The Colombian Football Major Division, known as DIMAYOR, also suspended all domestic matches scheduled for the week.
The move brought Colombia’s professional football calendar to a standstill as authorities and communities focused on the emergency. DIMAYOR expressed its solidarity with those affected and said the decision was taken in response to the exceptional circumstances facing the country.
The earthquake struck Monday morning in the Choco region of western Colombia. Its effects were felt across a wide area, including major cities such as Cali, Pereira and Bogotá.
The quake caused extensive structural damage, with buildings collapsing in some areas and emergency services working to reach people trapped under rubble. Airports and other infrastructure were also affected, complicating efforts to assess the full scale of the disaster.
The death toll rose throughout the day as rescuers reached areas that had initially been difficult to access.
The earthquake was among the strongest to strike Colombia in recent history and triggered a national emergency response. Authorities warned of further seismic activity as rescue crews continued searching damaged areas.
For Colombian football, the immediate priority shifted away from competition and toward safety and solidarity.
The postponements mean Tolima, Santa Fe and their opponents will have to wait for confirmation of when and where their continental fixtures will be played. CONMEBOL said those details would be announced in due course.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that replacing embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino would be “a terrible mistake,” throwing his support behind the football chief as he faces mounting criticism from several of the sport’s leading confederations.
Infantino came under renewed pressure after UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC signed an open letter accusing the FIFA president of breaking trust “through deception.” The three confederations represent football in Europe, North and Central America, and Asia, respectively.
Despite the backlash, Trump defended Infantino, who presented the U.S. president with a “FIFA Peace Prize” during last year’s World Cup draw ceremony.
Infantino has also faced scrutiny over his unsuccessful efforts to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, adding to the growing controversy surrounding his leadership of world football.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Trump called Infantino “fantastic” and said he “presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.”
“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!” added Trump, who attended the World Cup final with Infantino last month.
Trump’s backing of Infantino is at odds with U.S. football, which joined the voices lining up against the FIFA president.
Infantino launched, then withdrew in the face of scathing criticism, a plan to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
FIFA hit back Saturday at efforts “to undermine” football’s governing body and Infantino.
However, Monday’s joint letter from UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC retorted: “Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding — or demanding — power to be held.
“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”
UEFA boycott threat
CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is viewed as a potential challenger to Infantino, who will be up for reelection to a fourth and final term at the FIFA Congress in March 2027. Candidates have to be declared by Nov. 18.
Infantino had looked certain to be unopposed for a fourth term after overseeing a successful World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada until his plans were revealed.
The 56-year-old Swiss, who has been in office for 10 years, has received the backing of the Confederation of African Football, or CAF, while South American governing body CONMEBOL is largely supportive.
Individual member associations, not confederations, vote in the FIFA election.
Infantino has received support from CONCACAF’s Mexico and two AFC members, Kuwait and 2022 World Cup host Qatar, where he has a house.
‘Shabby, backroom deal’
UEFA’s threat to boycott World Cups if the private investment plan went ahead proved pivotal in Infantino withdrawing his sell-off plan.
UEFA had called it “a shabby, opaque, backroom deal” and lashed out at Infantino again Monday over a “failure of judgment.”
After the furor, Infantino received the “full support” of senior FIFA directors at an emergency meeting in Morocco last week, but the three confederations said that was meaningless.
The recent meeting, at which “a select number of members of the FIFA Management Committee” were present, they said, “represents a continuation of the very pattern of conduct that brought us to this moment.”
“It is not the conduct of a custodian of the game, but of one who believes the game is answerable to him.”
Infantino had been basking in the afterglow of the largest-ever World Cup involving 48 teams until his plans divided the sport.
“The growth over the past decade has been real. But that progress was never the work of one individual,” the letter declared.
“It was the product of FIFA, the Confederations, the Member Associations, and the thousands of people who dedicate their lives to the game.
“The expanded tournaments … were shared achievements, agreed together, delivered together.”
Under Infantino’s leadership, “there is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness,” they said.
“That is why we have taken this stance: not lightly and not alone, but together, and out of duty to the game we serve.
“Football’s strength has always been its unity.”
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