Hakan Çalhanoğlu

Calhanoglu (calf) is being gradually reintegrated into Turkey's training setup, with coach Vincenzo Montella confirming the captain is slowly being brought back into the fold ahead of the World Cup opener on June 14, according to NTV Spor. "We have started to gradually bring Hakan back into the group."

Analysis: Calhanoglu returned as a substitute in Monday's friendly win over North Macedonia but the coaching staff are taking a measured approach to his reintegration, with the priority being to have the Inter Milan midfielder fully fit and available for the tournament rather than rushing him back prematurely. The captain's availability and fitness will continue to be monitored closely over the coming days ahead of Turkey's opening World Cup fixture against Australia on June 14.

Jun 1, 2026

Appears off bench in friendly

Calhanoglu (calf) returned to action as a substitute for Turkiye in Monday's friendly win over North Macedonia.

Analysis: Calhanoglu is most likely ready to start and should captain his national team in the summer competition, offering a steady source of passing and ball recovery stats in holding midfield. His eventual addition to the initial lineup will lead to reduced involvement for Salih Ozcan and possibly Orkun Kokcu. In addition to his open play value, Calhanoglu is a solid set-piece taker, having scored five times from the penalty spot for Inter Milan in 2025/26 while also delivering corners and free kicks for both club and country. During the World Cup qualifying stage, he recorded one goal and four assists throughout seven games.

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