The draw for the European play-offs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in Zurich, became not only an official FIFA event but also a platform for an open discussion about Turkish football. A correspondent of Anadolu Agency spoke with football legends Christian Karembe, world and European champion with the France national team, and Pavel Nedved, Ballon d'Or winner and former leader of the Czech Republic national team. Both admitted that they follow Turkey and its young stars very closely.
"Turkey Can Reach the World Cup"
Christian Karembe, former midfielder of the France national team and leading European clubs, has been closely following Turkey's performances in the qualifying matches.
"The Turkish national team is a very interesting, modern side," he stressed in his conversation with Anadolu. "There are young, brave players there who are not afraid to take responsibility. If they manage to maintain their concentration and consistency, Turkey definitely has a realistic chance of seeing its name among the participants of the 2026 World Cup."
According to Karembe, Turkish football has taken a serious step forward in recent years, and the level of players coming through the local development system is constantly rising.
"Arda Guler Already Plays Like a Mature Master"
A separate topic of the conversation was the rising star of Real Madrid and the Turkey national team, Arda Guler. The former French midfielder did not hide his admiration for the game of the 20-year-old Turkish talent.
"Arda Guler is a fantastic player," Karembe noted. "He is very young, but he is already showing the world how talented he is. Every time he steps onto the pitch in a Real shirt, you can see that he understands the game at a very high level: he makes the right decisions, does not disappear under pressure, and is able to create chances for his teammates. The club is genuinely very happy with him. Football needs exactly this kind of player – bold, creative, with a bright individuality."
Karembe added that for a young player it is especially important to feel the support not only of the coaching staff but also of his teammates, and this is helping Guler to progress even faster.
Nedved: "Kenan Yildiz Has an Enormous Ceiling"
Pavel Nedved, who shone for many years in Serie A with Lazio and Juventus, admitted that he is particularly interested in the progress of Kenan Yildiz, who plays for the Turin club and the Turkey national team.
"Kenan Yildiz is simply a fantastic player," Nedved said. "He is a footballer of high calibre, and most importantly, he is only at the beginning of his path. He has excellent technique, a good sense of space, and already now he makes decisions like an experienced player. I am sure that in the coming years we will see him unlock his potential even more."
According to the former Czech midfielder, the combination of character and talent makes Yildiz one of the most promising footballers of his generation: "He has something that cannot be taught on the training ground – an inner feel for the game."
Fatih Terim as a Symbol of Turkey's Coaching School
Speaking about Turkish football, Nedved did not overlook the figure of Fatih Terim, one of Turkey's most renowned coaches.
"Fatih Terim is a name known all over Europe," he noted. "He has always known how to build a team and how to make players believe in themselves and in a common project. His contribution to the development of Turkish football is enormous, and many of today's players grew up watching his teams and his ideas."
Nedved stressed that the presence of coaches of this calibre strengthens the respect that the European football community has for both the domestic league and the Turkey national team.
Turkish Football Under the Watchful Eye of Legends
The conversation with Christian Karembe and Pavel Nedved showed that Turkish football has long since ceased to be a secondary topic for European experts. Young stars such as Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz evoke genuine interest and respect from figures whose names are inscribed in the history of world football.
The combination of a promising national team, bright individual talents and authoritative coaches makes Turkey one of the most intriguing projects on the road to the 2026 World Cup. And the high praise from figures like Karembe and Nedved only confirms that Turkish football is being followed very closely today – and that a great future is expected of it.
