Turkey World Cup History: Appearances, 2002 Third Place & Record
Quick answer: Turkey have 2 World Cup appearances (1954, 2002). Best finish: third place in 2002. They have never won the World Cup.
Turkey, known as the Crescent-Stars, achieved their greatest football moment at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, finishing third in South Korea/Japan. Led by Hakan Şükür and a talented generation, they defeated Senegal in the quarter-finals and South Korea in the third-place match.
See the full Turkey team page for squad details and legends.
Turkey World Cup Record
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 2 (1954, 2002) |
| Best finish | Third place (2002) |
| World Cup matches | 10 |
| Wins | 5 |
| Goals scored | 20 |
1954: World Cup Debut in Switzerland
Turkey's first World Cup was 1954 in Switzerland: - Beat South Korea 7-0 - Lost 4-1 and 7-2 to West Germany - Eliminated in the group stage
It was 48 years before Turkey returned to the World Cup.
2002: Third Place — Turkey's Golden Campaign
Turkey's 2002 run is one of the great underdog stories in World Cup history:
| Stage | Result |
|---|---|
| Group stage | Beat China 3-0, Japan 1-0; lost to Brazil 2-1, drew Costa Rica 1-1 |
| Round of 16 | Beat Japan 1-0 |
| Quarter-finals | Beat Senegal 1-0 (golden goal, İlhan Mansız) |
| Semi-finals | Lost 1-0 to Brazil |
| Third-place match | Beat South Korea 3-2 |
Hakan Şükür scored the fastest goal in World Cup history (11 seconds) in the third-place match against South Korea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turkey world cup history — how many appearances?
Two — 1954 and 2002.
Has Turkey ever won the World Cup?
No. Turkey's best finish was third place in 2002.
What was Turkey's best World Cup performance?
Third place in 2002 — they beat Senegal and South Korea in the knockout stage.
When did Turkey first appear in the World Cup?
1954 in Switzerland. Their next appearance was 2002.