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.
The Cleveland Cavaliers treated Sunday night’s Game 7 on the road like a familiar stage rather than a pressure cooker, and their composure showed from the opening tip.
That familiarity paid off in full.
Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 26 points, while Jarrett Allen delivered a second straight dominant series-clinching performance to power Cleveland into the Eastern Conference finals with a commanding 125-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 7.
Allen controlled the paint, finishing well ahead of Detroit center Jalen Duren, while Sam Merrill added 23 points off the bench to match Allen’s scoring total. Evan Mobley rounded out a strong all-around effort with his first double-double of the series, finishing with 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
The fourth-seeded Cavaliers will face the third-seeded New York Knicks in a best-of-seven series beginning Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
It did not take long for Cleveland to start looking ahead.
“This is fantastic. I’m excited, believe me. But we’ve got to be more disciplined,” Mitchell told a television audience, referring to earlier series-opening losses in Detroit and a defeat at home in Game 6 with a chance to advance. “We shouldn’t have to wait to get hit, to get punched in the mouth and face a go-home situation.”
Overpowering the Pistons in nearly every facet, the Cavaliers built a 20-point lead in the first half, extended it to as many as 26 in the third quarter and coasted into their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since defeating the Boston Celtics in seven games in 2018.
Failing to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the 18th consecutive year, the Pistons watched All-Star guard Cade Cunningham miss all seven of his 3-point attempts in a 13-point outing, while Tobias Harris went 0-for-6 from the field and finished with five points.
In winning a Game 7 for the sixth consecutive time dating to 2008, the Cavaliers outshot the Pistons 50.6% (43 of 85) to 35.3% (30 of 85) and outrebounded them 50-41.
Allen, who had 22 points and 19 rebounds when Cleveland needed a Game 7 to eliminate the Toronto Raptors in the first round, finished with 23 points, including 15 in the first half. He credited Mitchell for the early surge.
“He started out the game not trying to take it over, not trying to score every single basket,” Allen said in a televised on-court interview moments after the final horn. “He started the game trying to distribute the ball. That’s huge for a leader like him, trying to get everybody else going, then getting himself going second.”
The lopsided win gives Cleveland a brief turnaround before opening the next round in New York with just one day of rest.
“We know it’s going to be a loud environment. But we know that we can do it,” Allen said. “We came into an incredible arena like this and took over the game. We just have to do it again.”
Daniss Jenkins led Detroit with 17 points and five assists, while Duncan Robinson added 13 points and Caris LeVert scored 11. Duren finished with a team-high nine rebounds.
In his postgame news conference, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff congratulated Cleveland while emphasizing lessons for the future.
“We knew it was going to be a tough series and a tough test for us. (The Cavaliers) outplayed us; give them credit for it,” he said. “Just like last year, we’ll put it in our pocket. We’ll learn from it, and next year we’ll grow and be a better team.”
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer Neymar says he has weathered “nonsense” criticism during his long recovery from injury and believes he has done enough to earn a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad under Carlo Ancelotti, as selection pressure intensifies ahead of Monday’s announcement.
The 34-year-old forward, currently at Santos, has not featured for Brazil since 2023 after suffering a serious knee injury and undergoing surgery that kept him sidelined for a year. His road back has been closely watched by Ancelotti, who has made fitness and form key conditions for inclusion in the 26-player World Cup squad.
Neymar said his physical condition is finally where he wants it to be, even as scrutiny over his return has continued.
“Physically, I feel great. I’ve been improving with every game,” he said after Santos’ 3-0 loss to Coritiba in Brazil’s top flight on Sunday. “I’ve done my absolute best. It wasn’t easy. I’ll admit it wasn’t easy.”
He added that the criticism during his rehabilitation period had taken a personal toll.
“It’s been years of hard work, and also of a lot of nonsense being said about my condition and what I was doing. It’s really sad the way people talk about it,” he said. “I worked hard, quietly, at home, suffering because of what people were saying, and it all worked out.”
Neymar said he believes he has now reached a point of full readiness, leaving the decision in the hands of the national team coach.
“I’m happy with my performance, with everything I’ve done so far. Whatever happens, Ancelotti will certainly call up the 26 best players for this battle.”
His final club appearance before the squad announcement, however, was overshadowed by confusion. During the second half, a substitution error involving the fourth official led to Neymar being wrongly taken off while receiving treatment on the pitch. He reacted angrily on the touchline after the mix-up was confirmed, with his replacement already having entered the field.
Santos later clarified that defender Gonzalo Escobar had been the intended substitution, not Neymar. The forward was shown a yellow card for dissent after disputing the decision, even presenting the substitution sheet to officials to highlight the error.
Coach Cuca acknowledged the mistake but said it did not determine the outcome of the match.
Brazil, aiming for a record-extending sixth World Cup title, will compete in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland at the tournament in North America, running June 11 to July 19.
Brazil’s football confederation has not yet commented on the incident, while squad selection is expected to be confirmed in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
A tearful Robert Lewandowski lifted one final salute to the Camp Nou crowd and walked into Barcelona history on a night that celebrated both an era-ending farewell and another milestone in the club’s rebirth.
La Liga champions Barcelona closed out their home campaign with a 3-1 victory over Real Betis on Sunday, completing a flawless season at Spotify Camp Nou with 19 wins from 19 league matches while giving Lewandowski the emotional goodbye reserved for club greats.
The result itself mattered little in the title race.
Barcelona had already wrapped up the championship under Hansi Flick.
The night belonged to Robert Lewandowski, the striker who arrived during one of the club’s most fragile financial periods and leaves four years later with silverware, restored belief and a lasting place among Barça’s modern icons.
Wearing the captain’s armband in his final home appearance, Lewandowski soaked in every moment as supporters rose repeatedly to chant his name. When he was substituted late in the second half, the stadium stood as one.
The 37-year-old striker, visibly emotional, embraced teammates and coaches before returning after the final whistle for a lengthy tribute ceremony alongside his family.
“I say goodbye to the stadium, but I will always carry Barcelona in my heart,” Lewandowski said in his farewell message. “Thank you very much to all the fans. Once Barça, always Barça.”
It was a fitting ending for a player whose arrival from Bayern Munich in 2022 changed the direction of the club. Signed at a time when Barcelona were battling financial uncertainty and searching for stability after years of turbulence, Lewandowski delivered exactly what the club lacked: goals, leadership and certainty in decisive moments.
Across 191 appearances, the Polish striker scored 119 goals and added 24 assists, climbing into the club’s top-15 all-time scorers while helping Barcelona reclaim domestic dominance. During his four seasons in Catalonia, Barcelona lifted three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and three Supercopas de Espana.
Beyond the trophies, Lewandowski became a bridge between generations. Young stars such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Gavi matured alongside one of Europe’s elite forwards, with the veteran striker often credited internally for mentoring the club’s emerging core.
Flick praised Lewandowski after the match, calling him “one of the best strikers of the last decade” and highlighting the professionalism that shaped Barcelona’s dressing room during its transition period.
Barcelona still ensured the occasion ended with another commanding performance. Raphinha struck twice, while Joao Cancelo added a spectacular long-range effort as the champions controlled the match from start to finish. Betis pulled one goal back but rarely threatened to spoil the celebration.
Lewandowski did not find the net, yet the absence of a farewell goal hardly mattered inside a stadium focused on honoring everything he had already delivered.
The victory also sealed a historic achievement for Barcelona. No club had previously completed a perfect home record in a 38-game La Liga season. Barcelona’s 19 victories at Spotify Camp Nou underlined the consistency Flick has built by blending experienced leaders with a fearless young core.
The team’s dominance this season has re-established Barcelona as Spain’s benchmark again, with the club approaching the final round of the campaign on roughly 94 points and firmly back among Europe’s elite contenders.
Lewandowski now leaves with his future still undecided. Reports have linked him with potential moves to Major League Soccer and Serie A, including speculation around AC Milan, though no agreement has been announced.
What is certain is the scale of the legacy he leaves behind.
He arrived when Barcelona needed a scorer capable of carrying expectations during uncertain times. He departs with the club champions again, the stadium singing his name and a generation of supporters remembering the striker who helped restore Barça’s identity.
Napoli secured their spot in next season’s Champions League by beating Pisa 3-0 to cement second place, while Juventus tumbled from third to sixth in Serie A after suffering a shocking 2-0 home loss to 10-man Fiorentina.
AC Milan moved up to third with a 2-1 win over Genoa. AS Roma’s 2-0 win over Lazio in a chaotic Capital Derby, courtesy of Gianluca Mancini’s first brace of the season, left them tied with Milan on 70 points, but trailing by head-to-head performance this season.
Juventus, who suffered their first loss since February, are tied on 68 points with fifth-placed Como, who beat Parma, going into the final day of the season on May 24, when two of the four Champions League spots will still be up for grabs.
Napoli’s title defense ended earlier this month when Inter Milan secured the Scudetto and a draw at Como and a loss to Bologna had delayed their Champions League qualification.
However, Antonio Conte’s men eased to victory over bottom side Pisa, as Scott McTominay and Amir Rrahmani scored within six minutes to put them 2-0 ahead in the first half, before Rasmus Hojlund’s stoppage-time strike capped a dominant performance.
Juventus had started well against Fiorentina, with Francisco Conceicao and Dusan Vlahovic creating early chances. But shortly after the half-hour mark, Cher Ndour’s shot took a deflection off Juve defender Teun Koopmeiners and found the net.
Vlahovic’s equaliser in the second half was disallowed after a VAR review due to offside, but Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri was sent off for protesting against the goal being initially awarded.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, 15th-placed Fiorentina doubled their lead in the 82nd minute through Rolando Mandragora.
Capital derby chaos
There was high tension between Roma and Lazio, as a brawl broke out in the derby shortly after Mancini’s second goal. Wesley and Nicolo Rovella were both sent off and Roma held onto their two-goal cushion to win their fourth straight league game.
The derby at the Stadio Olimpico was scheduled early, along with the league games relevant to the top-four race, to avoid security complications from the Italian Tennis Open men’s final taking place next door at the Foro Italico.
Meanwhile, at Genoa, Milan took the lead when Christopher Nkunku scored from the spot early in the second half, and doubled their lead through Zachary Athekame in the 80th minute. The hosts fought back with Johan Vasquez’s strike five minutes later, but fell short.
Como edged Parma 1-0, with Alberto Moreno striking in the 57th minute.
With seventh-placed Atalanta sitting 10 points below Juventus, all clubs in the top six are assured of at least a place in the Europa League if they fail to secure a top-four finish on May 24.
Milan will host Cagliari next Sunday, while Juventus will visit city rivals, Torino. Roma play at Verona and Como end their campaign at Cremonese.
Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a four-year contract starting in July, the Premier League club said Sunday, tasking the Spaniard with reviving the team after a turbulent, trophyless season.
The 44-year-old Spaniard’s appointment comes a day after Chelsea were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup final, ending the London club’s hopes of salvaging a disappointing campaign with silverware.
“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club,” Alonso said in a statement on the club’s website.
“From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition.”
Alonso will look to steady the ship after a turbulent season in which the club dismissed two managers – Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior – with the latter sacked in April after a run of seven defeats in eight matches across all competitions.
With two Premier League games left, five-time Premier League winners Chelsea are ninth in the table, although they still have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe.
“We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies,” Alonso said.
The move also marks a return to English football for Alonso, who racked up 210 appearances for Liverpool before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009 and later ending his playing career with Bayern Munich in 2017.
Proven managerial pedigree
After retiring as a player, Alonso began his coaching career with Real Madrid’s youth academy and later managed Real Sociedad’s reserve team.
He rose to prominence as a manager at Bayer Leverkusen, where he took charge in 2022 and guided the club to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 campaign, along with the German Cup and a run to the Europa League final.
That success earned him a return to Real Madrid as head coach, though his spell was reportedly affected by internal tensions, including clashes with several senior players such as Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr.
He was sacked by Real Madrid in January, less than eight months after taking charge.
As a player, the former Spain international made 236 appearances for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014, winning LaLiga, two Copa del Rey titles and the club’s 10th European Cup.
He also made 114 appearances for the national side, finishing his international career with a World Cup trophy and two European titles.
Chelsea seek stability
Alonso becomes the fifth permanent appointment under Chelsea’s big-spending BlueCo ownership, following Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Maresca and Rosenior.
This season began with Chelsea as FIFA Club World Cup champions, but after a reasonable start, it unravelled into poor form amid managerial upheaval and fan protests.
Chelsea have spent 1.8 billion pounds ($2.40 billion) on signings since BlueCo took charge in 2022, but there has been little sign of consistent progress.
Fans’ group Not a Project staged a protest against the running of the club before Saturday’s Wembley showpiece.
It will now be Alonso’s task to try and mould a team capable of re-establishing themselves at the top of the Premier League.
“There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club,” Alonso, who had been linked with a possible return to Liverpool, said. “Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies.”
Current caretaker manager Calum McFarlane will continue in his role until the end of the season, with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League Tuesday.
World football governing body FIFA and the Iranian football federation held “excellent” and “constructive” talks on Saturday, Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom has said.
The talks with the Iranian football federation in Istanbul were aimed at ensuring Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Iranians are scheduled to be based and play all three of their group matches in the U.S. in spite of the war currently being waged in the Middle East.
“We’ve had an excellent meeting, a constructive meeting together with the Iran FA,” said Grafstrom.
“I think we’re working closely together and looking very much forward to welcoming them to the World Cup.
“We’ve had the opportunity to discuss some of the operational matters, like we do with every member association.
“But I’m very happy that we were able to have this positive exchange, and both the Iran FA and FIFA are very happy with the meeting and looking forward to welcoming Team Melli in the USA, Canada and Mexico.”
The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, had said Thursday that no visas had yet been issued for Iran’s team.
But he also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.
“We discussed our concerns and expressed our joint commitment to ensure the smooth participation of Team Melli,” he said.
Coach defends selection
The meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the Turkish Football Federation, comes as the Iranian team prepares to leave Monday morning for a training camp in Türkiye before heading to the United States.
Iran hope to play two friendlies in Antalya. They have already confirmed one match, against The Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.
They are taking a squad of 30 players, which will have to be trimmed to the World Cup maximum of 26.
While Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is on the list, this is not the case for the other star striker, Sardar Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals for the national team and previously played for Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma.
The forward, who had previously voiced support for anti-regime protesters, was recently accused of “treason” by Iranian state media after a photo was published in March showing him alongside the Emir of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, where he plays and resides.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei, however, has defended his decision.
“I swear before God that nothing other than technical criteria played a role in the selection of the players, and I chose the 30 players solely on that basis,” he said.
Iran have qualified for their fourth consecutive finals and, when the squad reaches the US, will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
They are due to kick off their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle, in Group G.
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