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Türkiye Under-21: another step towards EURO 2027Türkiye’s Under-21 team secured a place in the EURO 2027 qualifying play-offs with a 2–2 draw against Ukraine on 26 September 2026. The route ahead was clear: complete the group campaign against Hungary, then contest a November play-off for a place at the finals.
This stage matters for two reasons: the pursuit of European qualification and the development of players who could strengthen the senior national team in years to come. This guide covers the group situation, Türkiye’s results, selected members of the squad and the key dates to follow.
Original update: 30 September 2026. The tables and preview below preserve that dated snapshot.Update — 14 October 2026: Türkiye subsequently drew 0–0 with Hungary on 6 October, finishing second with 13 points from eight matches. The draw on 9 October paired Türkiye with Czechia: the first leg will be in Türkiye and the second in Czechia. UEFA’s latest draw announcement and TFF’s announcement give 12–17 November 2026 as the play-off window. The individual match dates and venues were still to be announced. The 9–17 November window in the original table below is retained as a record of the 30 September article, rather than the current official schedule.
Türkiye’s Under-21 players celebrate securing a play-off place.
Where did Türkiye stand on 30 September?
| Item | Position at the original update |
|---|---|
| Competition | 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying |
| Group | Group H |
| Head coach | Egemen Korkmaz |
| Türkiye’s position | Second place and a play-off berth secured |
| Next match at that point | Türkiye v Hungary — 6 October 2026 |
| Remaining objective | Win the play-off to qualify for the finals |
Reaching the play-offs does not mean qualifying for the final tournament. Croatia had clinched the group and direct qualification, leaving Türkiye to prepare for the November route. Türkiye could no longer qualify directly as the best runner-up.
Group H standings
The following table shows the position as of 30 September, when the teams had played different numbers of matches:
| Team | Played | Goals for | Goals against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Croatia | 6 | 14 | 2 | 16 |
 Türkiye | 7 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Ukraine | 7 | 12 | 9 | 9 |
| Hungary | 6 | 7 | 12 | 3 |
| Lithuania | 6 | 3 | 14 | 2 |
Türkiye’s record was three wins, three draws and one defeat. The two meetings with Ukraine proved particularly valuable: Türkiye won the first and drew the second, securing the head-to-head advantage. That guaranteed second place even if the two teams later finished level on points.
Türkiye’s qualifying results
Results and fixture status as recorded on 30 September 2026; see the dated update above for the Hungary result.
| Date | Opponent and venue | Türkiye’s result |
|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2025 | Croatia — home | Drew 1–1 |
| 10 October 2025 | Lithuania — home | Won 2–0 |
| 14 October 2025 | Hungary — away | Drew 1–1 |
| 14 November 2025 | Ukraine — home | Won 1–0 |
| 18 November 2025 | Lithuania — away | Won 2–1 |
| 31 March 2026 | Croatia — away | Lost 0–3 |
| 26 September 2026 | Ukraine — away | Drew 2–2 |
| 6 October 2026 | Hungary — home | Not yet played at the original update |
Ukraine match: a two-goal lead ends in a draw
The match took place at DVTK Stadium in Miskolc, Hungary. Emirhan İlkhan put Türkiye ahead in the 12th minute, and Ali Habeşoğlu added a second in the 33rd.
Ukraine responded after the interval through Danylo Krevsun in the 47th minute, before Ramik Hadzhyiev equalised in the 82nd. In the group’s other match, Croatia beat Hungary 3–1.
Türkiye celebrate one of their goals against Ukraine in EURO 2027 qualifying.
What the result suggests: Securing a play-off place was a clear achievement, but surrendering a two-goal lead raises questions about managing different phases of a match. In a tie played over two legs, protecting a lead and responding to an opponent’s comeback can have a decisive bearing on qualification.
This is an assessment of what the result means ahead of the play-offs. Judging the details of the pressing, possession or quality of chances would require more extensive performance data than the score alone provides.
Players to watch from the September squad
The squad included players based in Türkiye and abroad. This selection gives their clubs and broad playing positions according to the TFF squad announcement published on 28 September:
| Player | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Jankat Yılmaz | Goalkeeper | Galatasaray |
| Yusuf Akçiçek | Defence | Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia |
| Hamza Güreler | Defence | İstanbul Başakşehir |
| Yasin Özcan | Defence | Beşiktaş |
| Emirhan İlkhan | Midfield | Torino, Italy |
| Yunus Emre Konak | Midfield | Lincoln City, England |
| Baran Ali Gezek | Midfield | Alanyaspor |
| Ali Habeşoğlu | Attack | Trabzonspor |
Squad update: İsak Vural withdrew from the squad for the Hungary match because of injury, as announced on 28 September.
When following these players’ development, look at regular playing time, decision-making under pressure and contributions to the team’s overall play. Scoring in an international draws attention, but consistency for club and country gives a fuller picture of a player’s readiness to take the next step.
Hungary match: the original fixture details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Türkiye v Hungary |
| Day | Tuesday 6 October 2026 |
| Kick-off | 20:00 in Türkiye and Saudi Arabia |
| City | Istanbul |
| Stadium | Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium |
| Stage | Türkiye’s final group match |
With second place already secured, the match offered a chance to assess readiness for the play-offs. The original preview suggested watching the midfield balance, the response to transitions and the ability to maintain concentration until the final whistle.
Being named in the squad does not guarantee a starting place. Nor does having secured a play-off berth necessarily mean wholesale changes: team selection remains the coaching staff’s decision.
Türkiye’s Under-21 team train on 25 September ahead of the Ukraine match.
How does Türkiye reach the EURO 2027 finals?
The nine group winners qualify directly, alongside the best runner-up. The other eight second-placed teams contest play-offs for the remaining four places.
Each play-off tie consists of a home and an away leg. The team scoring more goals on aggregate qualifies. When comparing runners-up across the groups, results against sixth-placed teams are excluded.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| End of the group stage | 6 October 2026 |
| Play-off draw | 9 October 2026 |
| Play-off window recorded in the original 30 September article | 9–17 November 2026 |
| Final tournament | 16 June – 3 July 2027 |
| Co-hosts | Albania and Serbia |
Türkiye’s play-off opponent was still unknown at the original update on 30 September; Czechia was subsequently drawn on 9 October, as noted above. Qualification would bring Türkiye’s second appearance at the finals, following its participation in 2000.
Why can a player older than 21 take part?
Eligibility for this edition is determined by date of birth. The regulations allow players born on or after 1 January 2004 to participate, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements.
A player can therefore turn 22 or older during qualifying or by the time of the finals and remain eligible. The competition’s name refers to a particular age cohort for the cycle, rather than a fresh age test on every matchday.
Join the discussion: Which players from this generation do you expect to establish themselves in the senior national team? What is the most important area to improve before the two play-off legs?
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