Scandal erupts before the match against Australia as Turkey's captain suspected of smoking
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
The Turkish national team found itself in the spotlight even before their opening match at the 2026 World Cup. The reason? A video that quickly went viral on social media, sparking heated debate among fans.
The footage appears to show the national team captain, Çağlar Söyüncü, allegedly smoking on the balcony of the team’s hotel during the tournament in Vancouver.
The defender is seen in the video alongside two other men, also dressed in official Turkish team gear. Social media users quickly noticed an object in the player's hand, igniting a wave of speculation and discussion around the incident.
Despite the media frenzy, the Turkish squad continues their preparations for the World Cup opener against Australia, scheduled for June 14 at 6:00 AM Central European Time.
