Turkey beats Venezuela 2-1 in final World Cup 2026 warm-up

Turkey's national football team continued their strong preparation for the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Venezuela. The friendly match, held at the Inter Miami FC Stadium, saw the Turkish team come from behind to secure their second consecutive win in their pre-tournament fixtures.

Venezuela drew first blood, with Mendoza scoring in the 13th minute to put the South American side ahead. However, Turkey found an equalizer just before halftime through a Venezuelan own goal during a scramble in the box, leveling the score at 1-1.

The decisive moment came in the 54th minute when Yunus Akgün unleashed a spectacular shot from outside the penalty area, finding the back of the net and giving the Turkish national team, the "Ay-Yıldızlılar" (Crescent-Stars), a 2-1 lead.

This win is significant as it marks Turkey's return to the World Cup after a 24-year absence. The team's performance in these final friendlies demonstrates growing confidence and momentum as they prepare to compete on the world stage.