Turkey has returned to the World Cup after a 24-year wait, with players and fans expressing pride and cautious ambition following their playoff victory over Kosovo. This is only the third time Turkey has qualified for the tournament in their history. Captain, Hakan Calhanoglu, stated that the immediate focus would be on progressing from the group stage. The team's performance has revived memories of their run to the semi-finals in 2002, with striker Hakan Sukur suggesting that the current team could pose challenges despite playing without a traditional striker.