Since the World Cup was rekindled in 2002, there have been five editions of the tournament, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022, and the national soccer teams have been rotated as if they were going through the motions. Turkey, however, has fought alongside its national soccer team, breaking into the World Cup qualifying rounds for five consecutive editions. Looking back to 2002, it seems that Turkey's participation in the tournament was initially only for that glorious 3:0 battle.
Turkey, which straddles Asia and Europe, covers an area of 360,000 square kilometers, 78.97% of which is located in Asia's Asia Minor Peninsula, and 23,000 square kilometers are located west of the Black Sea Straits (Bosphorus). Yet, Turkey is convinced that it is a standard European country. This perception is not difficult to understand, after all, in the past, Europe was once dominant, the United States is the only superpower in North America, but also regarded as the inheritance of European civilization. Turkey has not only joined NATO's main European battlefield, but has also actively sought to join the European Union. But, unfortunately, the EU seems to have turned a deaf ear to Turkey's accession.
In the field of soccer, Europe is undoubtedly the most powerful continent in the world. Turkey's path to soccer began with the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, when Turkey participated as a European team, marking its first World Cup appearance. Surprisingly, Turkey's appearance in the World Cup history is only this one, with the exception of 2002. This number is even less than third-rate European teams such as Scotland and Austria. Scotland has participated in a total of eight World Cups, including five consecutive advances, while Austria has four appearances, in 1954, 1982, 1990 and 1998.
In 1958, Turkey suffered a 4-1 defeat to West Germany in their first World Cup match and then thrashed South Korea 7-0 in their second match. Tied on points with West Germany, Turkey had to play a play-off, but eventually lost 2-7, with West Germany advancing and winning the title. That World Cup was undoubtedly a nightmare for South Korea, who went home with 16 duck eggs. After years of honing their skills, South Korea is now a top team in Asia and has not fallen off the world stage since the 1986 World Cup.
Turkey did not expect to have to wait 48 years for the next World Cup. 1982 World Cup qualifiers, Turkey was in a group with the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Wales and Iceland, and lost all eight matches.
Turkey had a proud moment in the 2002 World Cup. They beat the national soccer team 3:0, drew with Costa Rica 2:2, and managed to qualify for Japan despite losing to Brazil. In the quarterfinals, Turkey met Senegal and eventually lost.
However, Turkey did not expect that after the glory, they have not been able to reach the World Cup again so far. In the World Cup, Turkey's performances have been rather dismal, but in the Europa League they have been relatively good. Turkey participated in 1996, 2000 (Elite Eight), 2008 (Quarterfinals), 2016 (24 teams) and Euro 2020. Overall, Turkey is mid-table in Europe, able to compete with the likes of Sweden and Denmark. Life in Turkey has not gotten any better since leaving Asia for Europe.
If Turkey can go toe-to-toe with Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Australia in Asia, then they are almost assured of a World Cup berth. Sources say that if Japan wants to enter Europe from Asia, the Asian powerhouses might be welcome, but Japan's fate could be similar to Turkey's in terms of making it to the World Cup.
