The Daily Star Ireland
Bulgaria and Turkey go head-to-head on October 11 at the Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski in Sofia in a crucial World Championship 2026 qualifier. Bulgaria are aiming to turn recent improvements into results, while Turkey look to bounce back from a heavy defeat. With both teams battling inconsistency, this matchup could have major implications for Group E qualification hopes.
Match Preview
Bulgaria enter this fixture with renewed belief under Ilian Iliev, who has begun instilling structure and discipline into a side long searching for stability. Recent performances—though not perfect—have shown progress. A narrow 2–1 defeat to Georgia and a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Wales underlined Bulgaria’s growing resilience. Playing at home in Sofia, they’ll look to capitalize on crowd energy and familiarity with the pitch.
Turkey, on the other hand, arrive wounded after a turbulent run of form. Their 6–0 loss to Spain in September was a wake-up call, exposing defensive fragility and lapses in concentration. Head coach Stefan Kuntz is under pressure to deliver consistency, especially with key injuries hampering the squad. Star midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu remains sidelined, leaving creative responsibilities to Arda Güler and Cengiz Ünder. Still, Turkey’s attack remains potent—when firing, they can punish mistakes swiftly.
This clash is likely to be decided in midfield. Bulgaria’s compact shape will attempt to frustrate Turkey’s quick transitions and counterpress. For Iliev’s men, exploiting set pieces and wide areas could be key, especially against a Turkish defense that has looked shaky when pulled out of position.
Team Form & Recent Results
Bulgaria (Last 5 matches): D L D L L
Turkey (Last 5 matches): L W L D L
Bulgaria’s inability to convert solid performances into wins remains their biggest hurdle. Meanwhile, Turkey’s inconsistency on the road continues to hurt their campaign.
Head-to-Head Record
Turkey have historically held the upper hand in this fixture, winning three of the last four meetings. However, Bulgaria managed to hold them to a 0–0 draw in their most recent encounter, showing that Iliev’s side can frustrate the Turks when organized defensively.
Last 5 meetings:
- Turkey 3–0 Bulgaria
- Bulgaria 0–0 Turkey
- Turkey 2–1 Bulgaria
- Bulgaria 0–2 Turkey
- Turkey 1–0 Bulgaria
Lineups, Injuries & Suspensions
Bulgaria Expected XI: Naumov; Turitsov, Hristov, Antov, Nedyalkov; Yankov, Malinov; Minchev, Despodov (c), Delev; Iliev
Turkey Expected XI: Bayındır; Celik, Söyüncü, Bardakcı, Kadioglu; Yokuslu, Özcan; Güler, Ünder, Aktürkoğlu; Yılmaz
Bulgaria have no major injury concerns but could rotate in midfield for freshness. For Turkey, the absence of Çalhanoğlu is significant, and Kuntz may rely on Orkun Kökçü to control tempo in his place.
Tactical Analysis & Key Players
Bulgaria’s plan will likely revolve around hitting Turkey on the break, with Kiril Despodov and Martin Minchev expected to spearhead counterattacks. Despodov’s pace and delivery remain crucial weapons, while Yankov’s work rate in midfield could be vital against Turkey’s high press.
Turkey will look to dominate possession, using Güler’s creativity between the lines and Ünder’s pace on the right flank to stretch the defense. Up front, Burak Yılmaz’s aerial presence offers a focal point, especially against Bulgaria’s physically robust but sometimes slow-reacting center-backs.
Odds, Markets & Betting Tips
- Match Winner: Turkey (1.65) | Draw (3.40) | Bulgaria (5.00)
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over (1.80)
- Both Teams to Score: Yes (1.95)
Betting Insights:
- Bulgaria have failed to score in three of their last four home matches.
- Turkey have kept four clean sheets in their last six head-to-heads.
- Five of the last seven encounters have featured under 2.5 total goals.
Where to Watch Online & Kickoff Time
- Venue: Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski, Sofia
- Date: October 11, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 20:45 local (EEST) / 19:45 CET
- Broadcast: UEFA.tv, DAZN, TRT Spor
Prediction: Bulgaria vs Turkey, World Championship 2026 Qualifiers
This matchup has all the ingredients for a tense European qualifier — Bulgaria’s home crowd versus Turkey’s superior individual talent. Ilian Iliev’s side will make life difficult early on, but Turkey’s quality in the final third should prove decisive. Expect a cautious first half followed by more open play as fatigue sets in.
