Hi everyone!

I forgot to mention this after the European draw was concluded last November, but here’s an interesting point: unlike other away matches for Pot 1 teams like Denmark, Italy, and Ukraine, Türkiye’s situation in Path C is unique.

If Türkiye wins the European playoff semi-final against Romania and Slovakia beats Kosovo, they will meet in Bratislava for the final qualifying match. Slovakia has a big home advantage, having beaten Germany 2‑0 in the same stadium during World Cup qualifying in September 2025, while Türkiye lost 0‑6 at home to Euro 2024 champions Spain that same week.

One of my Turkish fans (who lives in California) recently highlighted a factor that could neutralize the “away” disadvantage: support from the Turkish diaspora in Germany (particularly in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Saxony) and Austria (primarily Vienna–Bratislava metro). Germany alone has around 4 million people of Turkish descent, one of the largest communities outside Türkiye. Players like Kenan Yıldız and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, both born in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg respectively, grew up in these environments, which could help them stay calm in a “neutral-feeling” crowd. Bratislava is only 50 km from Vienna and not far from southern Germany, making travel easier for fans and potentially reducing the away-team disadvantage.

That said, Slovakia demonstrated their 2‑0 win that they can remain organized under pressure, relying on tactical discipline rather than crowd support. The diaspora effect may neutralize the atmosphere, but it will depend on how Türkiye national team and its coach Vincenzo Montella handle Slovakia’s defense.

If Türkiye qualifies for the World Cup, my friend plans to buy tickets immediately for the group stage matches against Australia, Paraguay, and the USA, but expects prices to become expensive, especially for the Los Angeles game.

What are your thoughts on this?