Turkey: Montella asks FA to change fixtures before World Cup play-offs | OneFootball

Turkey is still fully in the running for qualification to the 2026 World Cup and is preparing to face one of the most delicate phases of its international journey.

Turkey, Montella follows Gattuso’s lead: official request to the Turkish federation to modify the calendar ahead of the World Cup playoffs

The 2-2 draw against Spain, the reigning European champions, secured Vincenzo Montella’s team second place in the group and access to the playoffs, exactly as happened with Gattuso’s Italy.

Looking ahead to March, the month in which the World Cup fate of several European national teams will be decided, Montella has made a direct appeal to the Turkish federation, a request that mirrors the one Gattuso already made to the FIGC: “If, by talking with the clubs, we could play one less match that month and have a few more days to work, I would be very happy.”

Montella calls for a strategic break: “We’ll run together towards the dream”

The head coach is aware of the logistical difficulties, especially during a period of the season packed with club commitments. However, his appeal is clear and is based on a shared vision among staff, players, and the federation: “In March, we’ll all run together towards a great dream.”

Montella knows that even a minimal change to the calendar would represent a decisive advantage in preparing for the playoffs. That’s why the message has become public: “If everyone could contribute, I would be truly happy.”

Why the request is so important

Turkey is experiencing a positive and competitive technical cycle, but the playoffs require pace and tactical precision that demand time, focus, and fine-tuning. Even a few extra days could impact the quality of work on the field and, consequently, the chances of qualification.

Montella’s position confirms a trend shared by several European head coaches: to enhance the preparation of national teams, especially in a context where the international calendar appears increasingly compressed.

How the World Cup playoffs work

Turkey, like Italy, is in the top seed for the European playoffs for access to the 2026 World Cup. Four spots remain to be assigned, and the mechanism involves a selective formula:

The 16 participating teams will be divided into four paths of four national teams each.

The four teams brought in via the Nations League will go into the fourth seed.

The other twelve will be distributed among the first three seeds based on the November FIFA ranking.

The semifinals will feature mandatory matchups:

first seed vs fourth seed

second seed vs third seed

Teams belonging to the same seed cannot face each other.

A system designed to make the playoffs competitive, but also unpredictable.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.