Warming up before Australia! Prediction for Turkey vs North Macedonia - 01.06.2026
One of Monday's friendlies will take place in Istanbul at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, where Turkey will host North Macedonia. For Vincenzo Montella’s squad, this is an important dress rehearsal ahead of the World Cup, while the visitors get a chance to test their defensive resilience against an opponent currently riding a wave of emotional momentum.
Turkey: Montella has built a team with character and a clear attacking vision
Turkey is returning to the World Cup after a 24-year absence, and qualification itself has already given the team a huge psychological boost. The 1-0 playoff victory over Kosovo, thanks to a goal from Kerem Aktürkoğlu, extended Turkey’s unbeaten streak to six matches, five of which were wins.
What’s especially important is that Turkey now looks not only vibrant but also more mature without the ball. In their last four matches, the team kept three clean sheets, and over their last six games, they have scored 16 goals - a rare balance for a national side that not long ago often depended on emotional surges.
North Macedonia: Solid defense, but the attack has nearly stalled
North Macedonia didn’t make it to the World Cup, but recent matches have shown they can be patient and close down space. A goalless draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina followed a similar result against Ireland, perfectly illustrating the team’s current profile: organization is there, but attacking sharpness is severely lacking.
Their winless streak has now stretched to seven games, and in four of their last five outings, North Macedonia failed to score at all. Still, Goce Sedloski’s team has lost just two of their last eight matches, so Turkey shouldn’t expect a walk in the park - the visitors know how to slow the tempo and turn the match into a gritty battle.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Turkey is unbeaten in six straight matches, winning five of them since thrashing Bulgaria 6-1.
- North Macedonia’s last two games ended 0-0 against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ireland.
- Turkey has lost just one home match since June 2024, while North Macedonia is winless in seven consecutive games.
Prediction
Turkey enters the match as clear favorites: they’re in better form, boast more attacking options, and have a well-defined structure under Montella. Even without Kenan Yıldız and with Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Ahmetcan Kaplan struggling with fitness, the hosts still have the quality to break down the defense through Güler, Kökçü, Yılmaz, and Aktürkoğlu.
North Macedonia can remain compact for long stretches, but their attacking stats are a real concern. If Turkey seizes control of possession early and prevents the visitors from slowing the game down, the hosts’ advantage should become evident in the second half.
