Ferdi Kadioglu: Why He Chose to Play for Turkey and Ready to Face World Cup 2026
Ferdi Kadioglu, who can play for the Netherlands, Canada and Turkey, explains why he chose Turkey and talks about Arda Guler, his form at Brighton, and the preparations for the World Cup 2026.
Ferdi Kadioglu, Brighton's right back/midfielder, could play for three countries participating in the upcoming World Cup — but he has no hesitation in choosing: Turkey. Although he was also eligible to represent the Netherlands and Canada (the latter is one of the tournament's co-hosts along with the United States and Mexico), Kadioglu said the decision was drawn from his heart.
Born in Arnhem, Netherlands, to a Dutch-Canadian woman and a Turkish father, Kadioglu played for the Netherlands from U16 to U21. "There was a time when I couldn't play for the U21, and Canada and Turkey were interested. I had to make a decision then," Kadioglu told a small group of journalists with The Athletic. "The family and I talked — how they feel and how I feel. In the end, I made a decision of the heart."
Ever since he chose Turkey, he says he is very happy. "From the first moment, I was happy with my choice. The Euros were amazing and I hope we can do it again at the World Cup." At Euro 2024 in Germany, Kadioglu played every minute as Turkey reached the quarter-finals before losing 2-1 to the Netherlands.
Turkey is considered one of the dark horses in this World Cup, and for good reason: they have young talents like Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler and Juventus' Kenan Yildiz. Kadioglu praised Guler after his stunning two-goal performance in Real Madrid's 4-3 defeat of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. "It was a crazy game. I think now the whole world knows Arda. He is also my friend. He came to Madrid when he was young and he had to adjust physically. Now, he is showing that he has high quality for Real Madrid," said Kadioglu.
<figure style="margin:2rem 0;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;background:#f9f9f9"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2026/06/12073607/GettyImages-2280949544-scaled-e1781264184878.jpg?width=1200&height=630&fit=cover" alt="Image" style="width:100%;height:auto;object-fit:contain" loading="lazy" /></figure>But he also emphasized that the team does not depend only on two stars. "When they come on the pitch, they show their quality and confidence. We need them, but we also need other players — they are also important. Everyone needs to be fit and ready for the tournament."
Talk of Kadioglu also turns to his form at the club. The 26-year-old made 34 consecutive starts for Brighton in the Premier League, going the full 90 minutes in 30 of those, and was named player of the year after helping the team finish eighth and secure Conference League qualification for 2026-27. It was a huge recovery after a difficult 2024-25, where a ruptured ligament in his big left toe sidelined him after scoring two goals in the first eight games following a £25 million transfer from Fenerbahçe.
Regarding Turkey's road to the World Cup: they got through the European play-offs after losing only once in the group (against Spain) and won the play-off semi-final in Kosovo before winning the play-off final; Kadioglu also played a key role as he scored the only goal against Romania in Istanbul to book the spot.
As they enter Group D, Turkey will face Australia in the opening match (Sunday, 5am UK time / 12AM ET), followed by Paraguay and the United States. As for the fans' admiration, Kadioglu can't complain: "Maybe 85 million are in Turkey, so it's great to play for them. The support is so strong, they're fanatical. When you see the Turkish fans, they give you goosebumps — it's like an extra player on the pitch."
Historically, this is only Turkey's third World Cup appearance and the first since 2002, when they reached the semi-finals in Japan and South Korea. For Kadioglu, the biggest lesson is clear: he is ready and hopes the team can pull off a surprise in America.
