World Cup 2026 Draw Complete: Arda Guler Set to Play Despite Injury, Turkey Placed in Group D

Arda Guler’s Road to the 2026 World Cup

According to Главком: Real Madrid and Turkey forward Arda Guler will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even after suffering an injury. He was forced to leave the pitch early during his Spanish league match against Alaves in round 33 due to a right hamstring strain. However, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the injury will not prevent him from representing Turkey at the upcoming global tournament.

“The injury will not stop him from playing at the 2026 World Cup with the Turkish national team.”

2026 World Cup Group Stage Breakdown

Turkey has been placed in Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay, and Australia. In this edition of the World Cup, the top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16. Additionally, the eight best third-placed teams across all groups will also move on to the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Ukraine fell short in their World Cup qualifying campaign, losing 1–3 to Sweden in the playoff semifinal. The match ended with Sweden’s Viktor Gyökeres scoring a hat-trick (6', 51', 72'), while Ukraine’s only goal came from Ponomarenko in the 90+1 minute.

Below is the full list of groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic.
• Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland.
• Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.
• Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey.
• Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador.
• Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia.
• Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.
• Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
• Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway.
• Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.
• Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia.
• Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.

Despite the setback, Arda Guler is preparing to compete in this major international tournament. His inclusion could prove crucial for Turkey in Group D, as his technical ability and experience may boost the team’s chances of advancing. At the same time, Ukraine’s elimination highlights the intense competition in World Cup qualifying, where every match carries enormous weight for nations looking to make their mark on the global stage.

As the excitement builds for the 2026 World Cup, discussions around potential changes to the participating teams are also heating up. Recently, a proposal emerged to replace Iran with Italy, highlighting the dynamic nature of the tournament's lineup. This adds another layer of intrigue as fans eagerly anticipate the competition ahead.