(Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP) (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey vs Romania World Cup Qualifier Lineups, Preview

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Mar 26, 2026 11:02 AM ET

Path C of the UEFA World Cup qualifying playoffs sees Turkiye host Romania in one semifinal. The other semifinal in Path C is Slovakia vs Kosovo.

Turkiye is the favorite to qualify for the 2026 World Cup from Path C after their impressive performance in the previous stage of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers.

Turkiye finished second in Group E of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers with 13 points. The group consisted of Spain, Georgia, and Bulgaria. Spain topped the group, but Turkiye were only three points behind them.

In their previous match, Turkiye drew 2-2 with Spain, and their goal scorers were Deniz Gul and Salih Ozcan.

Romania finished third in Group H UEFA World Cup qualifiers, which consisted of Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, and San Marino.

Romania is in this stage of the World Cup qualifiers after their finish in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League rankings. In their previous match, Romania defeated San Marino 7-1 with goals from Stefan Baiaram, Dennis Man, Ianis Hagi, Andrei Ratiu, Louis Munteanu, and own goals from Dante Carlos Rossi and Giacomo Valentini.

Tommaso Benvenuti of San Marino looks on as Denis Alibec, Dennis Man, Ionut Mitrita and Ianis Hagi of Romania react following the final whistle of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between San Marino and Romania at San Marino Stadium on March 24, 2025 in San Marino, San Marino. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

Expected Lineups for Turkiye vs Romania

Turkiye

Goalkeeper: Ugurcan Cakir
Defenders: Ferdi Kadioglu, Samet Akaydin, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Mert Muldur
Midfielders: Ismail Yuksek, Hakan Calhanoglu, Arda Guler
Forwards: Kenan Yildiz, Kerem Akturkoglu, Oguz Aydin

Romania

Goalkeeper: Ionut Radu
Defenders: Nicusor Bancu, Andrei Burca, Virgil Ghita, Andrei Ratiu
Midfielders: Florin Tanase, Vladimir Screciu, Vlad Dragomir
Forwards: Ianis Hagi, Daniel Birligea, Dennis Man

Where to Watch Turkiye vs Romania

Turkiye vs Romania will kick off at 1 p.m. ET/ 10 p.m. PT in the United States. The match will kick off at 8 p.m. local time in Istanbul, Turkiye, at the Tupras Stadyumu.

The match will be available to watch across TV channels and streaming services in the United States and in other countries.