Turkey banking on new-manager bounce: Turkey vs Belgium prediction
The UEFA Nations League fifth-round clash between Turkey and Belgium will take place on November 12, 2026, at Gürsel Aksel Stadium in Izmir. The hosts have made a disastrous start to the group stage, losing all four matches and virtually ruling themselves out of the race to stay in the top tier. Belgium sit third in Group 1 of League A and remain in contention for a quarter-final place, trailing Italy by one point and leaders France by four.
Turkey: new coach aims to halt losing streak
Turkey are in the midst of a serious crisis after a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign and a disastrous start to the Nations League. The team lost to France (0-1), Italy (1-4), Belgium (0-3) and Italy again (1-3), conceding 11 goals while scoring just twice. Those results led to the dismissal of Vincenzo Montella, with Sergen Yalçın, formerly of Beşiktaş, taking over as head coach.
The new manager hopes to restore his players' confidence, but team selection issues are making preparations for this crucial match more difficult. Kenan Yıldız remains sidelined with an injury, defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı will miss the game through suspension, while Kerem Aktürkoğlu and İrfan Can Kahveci have not been included in the squad. Turkey's main attacking hopes rest on Arda Güler, who recently scored and provided an assist for Real Madrid, and experienced midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who can bring some much-needed structure to the team's play.
Belgium: return of key players strengthens their bid for victory
Belgium remain in the race for a top-two finish, although their performances in this edition have been inconsistent. Marc van Bommel's side have won two of their four matches, beating Italy (2-0) and Turkey (3-0), but have lost twice to France — 0-1 and 1-4. The most recent defeat was particularly painful, leaving Belgium chasing the pack ahead of the decisive rounds of the group stage.
The team head to Izmir with some major reinforcements. Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans return from suspension, while the fit-again Jérémy Doku is once again available to the coaching staff. Thibaut Courtois, however, remains unavailable for international duty, and Roméo Lavia will miss the match through suspension. Despite those absences, Belgium still boast plenty of attacking firepower, especially with Romelu Lukaku in the side and key creative players returning.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Turkey have lost all four of their opening Nations League matches, with a goal difference of 2:11
- Belgium have won two of their four group-stage matches, keeping a clean sheet in both victories
- In their previous meeting, Belgium thrashed Turkey 3-0 thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne brace and a Romelu Lukaku goal
Belgium's quality should prove decisive: Turkey vs Belgium prediction
A change of head coach could give Turkey an added boost, particularly in front of their home fans. However, it will be difficult to fix the team's structural defensive problems in such a short time, as they have repeatedly made mistakes against high-calibre opponents. Belgium have already shown their superiority in the first meeting, and the returns of De Bruyne, Tielemans and Doku should make their attack even more versatile.
Turkey will have to take risks: even a win would not guarantee their place in the top tier, while a defeat would virtually end their hopes in the competition. That could open the game up, which would suit the visitors and their wealth of attacking talent. Given the difference in current form, Turkey's defensive struggles and Belgium's strong motivation in the race for a quarter-final place, a high-scoring win for Marc van Bommel's side looks the most likely outcome.
