ANKARA, Saturday, June 13, 2026 (WNP): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday delivered an emotional message of support to Türkiye’s national football team ahead of its opening FIFA World Cup match against Australia, saying the entire nation stood united behind the squad as it embarks on its first World Cup campaign in 24 years.

Addressing the players in a statement, President Erdoğan said excitement had swept across the country as millions of Turks prepared to witness their national team return to football’s biggest stage after more than two decades.

“With tomorrow’s match against Australia, our World Cup journey—one that our nation has been eagerly awaiting—begins. The excitement of experiencing our first World Cup in 24 years has gripped every corner of our country,” Erdoğan said.

The president said citizens from every region of Türkiye were united in support of the national team, describing the players as ambassadors of the nation carrying the country’s flag onto the world stage.

“From Edirne to Kars, from Sinop to Hatay, from Istanbul to Diyarbakır, each of our 86 million citizens is united today by the same feeling. You are the sons of Türkiye who have carried our crescent-and-star flag onto the world’s biggest stage,” he said.

Erdoğan told the players that they would carry not only the national colors but also the hopes, prayers and pride of the Turkish people when they step onto the pitch.

“When you take the field, you will carry on your shoulders the prayers, hopes, history and pride of this nation. Even though you may be thousands of kilometers away, hearts across every home, street and square in Türkiye will beat with you,” he added.

The Turkish leader praised the team’s fighting spirit and resilience, saying they had repeatedly demonstrated determination and perseverance in difficult moments.

“We have witnessed time and again that you never stopped fighting, embracing the belief that ‘it is not over until we say it is over,’ and we have seen what you have achieved for Türkiye,” he said.

Recalling Türkiye’s historic third-place finish at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Erdoğan said the achievement remained a source of national pride and urged the current generation to create a new chapter in Turkish football history.

“The memory of the pride we felt when we finished third in the 2002 World Cup still lives in our hearts. Now is the time to write a new epic. God willing, we will write that story together,” he said.

Concluding his message, Erdoğan offered prayers for the team’s success and expressed confidence in their ability to make the nation proud.

“May Allah be your helper and protector. May every shot you take become a goal. The flag is with you, the hope is with you, the prayers are with you. May your path and your fortune be bright, our boys,” he said.

Türkiye is set to open its FIFA World Cup campaign against Australia, with fans across the country hoping the team can replicate—or surpass—the historic achievements of the 2002 generation.