Could San Marino go to the World Cup instead of Turkey? Is Turkey going to the World Cup? Did Turkey qualify for the play-offs?

Turkey was defeated 3-1 by Montenegro in the UEFA Nations League.

So, with this result, did the Turkish National Team earn the right to play in the World Cup play-off round? Will Turkey be able to go to the World Cup? Will Turkey play in the play-offs? Here are the answers to all these questions...

WILL TURKEY PLAY IN THE WORLD CUP PLAY-OFFS?

Having lost 3-1 to Montenegro in the Nations League, Turkey, as the runner-up of League B Group 4, will play a play-off match against one of the teams that finished third in League A—Scotland, Belgium, Hungary, or Serbia—to earn promotion to League A.

However, if Turkey fails to finish in the top two of its group in the World Cup qualifiers, it has lost the chance to participate in the play-off round that will determine the final four teams from Europe to qualify.

DOES SUCCESS IN THE NATIONS LEAGUE AFFECT THE WORLD CUP?

In the World Cup European qualifiers, which will be played across 12 groups, the 12 group winners will qualify directly for the World Cup.

The 12 teams that finish as runners-up in the qualifiers, along with the best four group winners from each league in the Nations League that did not finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups, will play a mini play-off tournament in four separate brackets of four teams each to determine the final four teams that will participate in the major event in 2026.

Having finished its Nations League group in second place, Turkey will not be able to participate in the play-off round that will determine the final four teams to qualify for the World Cup.

WILL SAN MARINO GO TO THE WORLD CUP?

On the other hand, San Marino, which ranks last among the 14 best group winners in the Nations League, could get a chance to enter the play-off tournament and go to the World Cup.

If at least 10 of the 14 group winners finish in the top two of their qualifying groups, San Marino could find itself in a position to participate in the play-off tournament.