Turkey ended a 24-year wait to qualify for the World Cup by beating Kosovo 1-0 in their playoff final ​on Tuesday, sealing a return to football’s biggest stage for the ‌first time since 2002 when they reached the semi-finals.

Forward Kerem Akturkoglu scored the only goal in the 53rd minute, turning the ball in from close range after Orkun ​Kokcu’s shot, following a driving run from Kenan Yildiz down the ​left.

Turkey, ranked 25th in the world, had fallen short in ⁠qualifying campaigns over the past two decades and arrived under pressure to ​deliver, with coach Vincenzo Montella overseeing a squad blending emerging talents and ​experienced internationals.

“Thank God. It has been 24 years. Some of us were not even born the last time we qualified, and some were too young to remember. We always ​dreamed of moments like this,” Akturkoglu told Turkish TV.

“We talked about ​2002 and the success there, we always dreamed of it. Most of us don’t even ‌remember ⁠2002. Now we will give the next generation something to dream about at the 2026 World Cup. We want to make our country proud,” he added.

For Kosovo, ranked 79th and playing in front of a sold-out ​crowd, the defeat brought ​an end ⁠to a remarkable run that had taken them to the brink of a historic debut at a major tournament, ​less than a decade after joining FIFA and UEFA.

The ​hosts pushed ⁠forward in the closing stages, taking risks in search of an equaliser and creating several chances, but were unable to beat Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir ⁠as ​the visitors held on.

Turkey will face Australia, Paraguay ​and co-hosts the United States in Group D of the World Cup. The tournament will ​also be hosted by Canada and Mexico.

-Reuters

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino threw his support behind Iran’s World Cup preparations on Tuesday, attending their 5-0 friendly win over Costa Rica in Turkey, even as their ​tournament participation is in limbo due to Middle East tensions.

Infantino’s surprise appearance came ‌as Iran continues pushing to relocate the team’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico, citing the American military involvement alongside Israel in strikes that sparked the current regional war.

Iran’s federation said ​earlier this month that they were in discussions with FIFA about the venue switch, while ​Iran’s Sports Ministry has banned national and club sports teams from travelling ⁠to countries it considers hostile until further notice.

FIFA, however, has maintained it is looking forward ​to all participating teams “competing as per the match schedule” announced in December.

“I am very pleased ​that the Iran national team is currently holding its training camp… We have only one plan for this team. Iran has qualified for the World Cup and will play in the tournament,” Infantino was ​quoted as saying by Iranian media at the match in Antalya.

“Personally, I will do ​whatever I can to make sure everything is in order.”

Iran, who dominated the Asian qualifying rounds to ‌book ⁠their place at the tournament in March last year, are scheduled to play all three Group G matches on American soil — two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle — against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.

INFANTINO PLEDGES SUPPORT TO IRAN TEAM

Speaking directly to the Iranian team, Infantino ​pledged his support but ​steered clear of ⁠the wider issues surrounding the dispute, saying they were “not pursuing politics”.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that while Iran’s national ​team were welcome to play in the U.S., it might not ​be appropriate ⁠for their “life and safety“.

“From now until the World Cup, I will do whatever I can to support the Iran national team,” Infantino said.

“If you want to organise a training camp or ⁠if ​there is any matter related to activities outside the ​country, whatever it is, I will help.

-Reuters

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By Kunle Solaja

Some matches define careers, and then there are matches that attempt to rewrite history. This Tuesday’s intercontinental World Cup play-off between DR Congo and Jamaica falls firmly into the latter category—a collision of ambition, memory, and unfinished business.

For the Congolese, this is more than a football match. It is a 90-minute opportunity to correct a narrative that has lingered painfully for over half a century.

A 52-Year Wait for Redemption

The last and only time DR Congo, then known as Zaire, appeared at the World Cup was in 1974 in West Germany. It remains one of the most misunderstood campaigns in football history.

DR Congo, as Zaire crumble to a 9-0 defeat against Yugoslavia in 1974.

That same year, the world watched Muhammad Ali defeat George Foreman in the iconic Rumble in the Jungle in Kinshasa, while political upheaval in the United States saw Richard Nixon resign over Watergate. Against that global backdrop, Zaire’s World Cup journey descended into chaos.

A 2-0 defeat to Scotland was respectable. But what followed—a 9-0 thrashing by Yugoslavia and a 3-0 loss to Brazil—etched the team into global football folklore for the wrong reasons.

The enduring image remains Mwepu Ilunga charging out of the defensive wall to blast the ball away before a Brazilian free kick—an act widely mocked at the time but later understood to have deeper roots, including alleged unpaid bonuses and internal tensions.

“We were not a bad team,” goalkeeper Mohamed Kalambay would later insist. History, however, has not always been kind.

A New Generation, A Different Story

Now, a new generation of Congolese players stands on the brink of rewriting that legacy. “This is the biggest game of my career,” said defender Axel Tuanzebe, echoing the sentiments of millions back home and across a vast diaspora estimated at over 110 million people. Former captain Gabriel Zakuani has gone even further, calling it “the biggest game in our history.”

DR Congo players seek a return to the World Cup after a 52-year absence

Victory would not only end a 52-year absence—it would also secure Africa a symbolic 10th representative at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. More importantly, it would offer DR Congo the chance to return not as participants, but as competitors determined to erase the ghosts of 1974.  

Jamaica’s Own Dream of Return

Standing in their way are the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica—a team with its own history of longing and resurgence.

Jamaica’s only World Cup appearance came in 1998 in France, where they famously defeated Japan 2-1 to record their first—and so far only—World Cup win.

Since then, the Caribbean side has flirted with qualification but fallen short. This play-off represents their clearest path back to the global stage in nearly three decades.

Blending Europe-based professionals with emerging local talent, Jamaica arrive with pace, physicality, and a fearless approach—traits that could trouble the Leopards if not carefully managed.

Tactical Battle and Stakes

On paper, DR Congo may carry the edge in defensive organisation and experience, particularly with players like Tuanzebe anchoring the backline. Their midfield discipline and structured approach could prove decisive in a high-pressure encounter.

Jamaica, however, will look to stretch the game, using speed on the flanks and direct attacking transitions to unsettle their opponents.

But beyond tactics, this match will likely be decided by temperament.

For DR Congo, the weight of history could either inspire or suffocate. For Jamaica, the opportunity is simpler: seize the moment and return to a stage they have long missed.

More Than Qualification

Awaiting the winner is a place in a World Cup group alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia—a challenging but navigable path for a team willing to dream beyond participation.

As Zakuani put it, the objective is not merely to attend, but to compete and “create history.”

For DR Congo, history is something to be reclaimed.
For Jamaica, it is something to be rediscovered.

On Tuesday, one of them will take a decisive step toward rewriting their football story.

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