The Turkish national team delivered a commanding performance on Monday, June 1, 2026, routing North Macedonia 4–0 in an international friendly at the Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. The match served as a pivotal preparation phase for Türkiye as they fine-tune their squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Match Breakdown
Türkiye wasted no time establishing control, setting a blistering pace from the opening whistle:Early Breakthrough: Orkun Kökçü opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, finishing a clinical cross from Oğuz Aydın.
Doubling the Lead: In the 16th minute, Can Uzun struck from outside the penalty area, his effort finding the net via the post to make it 2–0.
Second Half Surge: Türkiye maintained their intensity after the break, with Deniz Gül heading home a cross from Can Uzun in the 53rd minute.
The Finishing Touch: Barış Alper Yılmaz completed the 4–0 rout in the 70th minute following a beautiful passing sequence involving Arda Güler and İrfan Can Kahveci.
Key Takeaways
Squad Depth: Head coach Vincenzo Montella utilized his bench effectively, giving valuable minutes to rising talents like Arda Güler, who entered the pitch in the 62nd minute to help orchestrate the final goal.
Defensive Resilience: While North Macedonia attempted to claw their way back—notably through Ezgjan Alioski late in the first half—goalkeeper Altay Bayındır stood firm to keep a clean sheet.
Road to the World Cup: This dominant display provides significant momentum for Türkiye as they head into their next friendly match against Venezuela on June 7, 2026.