Aleksander Ceferin highlighted Türkiye’s growing importance in European football, describing the country as one of the continent’s major football nations rather than an emerging market.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ceferin praised Türkiye’s successful organization of several UEFA events and described Istanbul as one of Europe’s leading football cities. He said football culture in Türkiye is deeply rooted in everyday life.
“Türkiye can successfully host major events”
Ceferin pointed to the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, the 2023 UEFA Champions League final and the upcoming 2026 UEFA Europa League final at Besiktas Park as proof of Türkiye’s organizational strength.
While noting that areas such as transportation, security and fan flow management could still improve, he said UEFA’s overall assessment of Türkiye’s hosting performances has been highly positive.
Special praise for Istanbul
The UEFA president emphasized that Istanbul continues to stand out as one of Europe’s most important football destinations. He added that UEFA’s repeated decision to bring major finals back to the city reflects strong confidence in both Istanbul and the Turkish Football Federation.
Strong infrastructure ahead of EURO 2032
Ceferin also praised Türkiye’s modern stadium infrastructure ahead of UEFA EURO 2032, which the country will co-host with Italy.
He noted that while many European nations have discussed building new stadiums for years, Türkiye has already completed major projects and gained a significant advantage with its modern facilities.
Optimistic about the national team
Ceferin said he expects Türkiye to be highly competitive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and stressed that the national team should aim not only to qualify but also to become a side that opponents fear facing.
He also praised Türkiye’s talented generation of players, highlighting Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız as two of the brightest young stars in European football. Hakan Çalhanoğlu was commended for his leadership and experience.
“Turkish clubs need consistency”
Ceferin said Turkish clubs should focus on building long-term success in European competitions rather than celebrating isolated achievements.
He praised Galatasaray as well as the recent European performances of Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, İstanbul Başakşehir and Sivasspor.
According to Ceferin, sustainable progress in Turkish football will require investment in youth academies, coaching systems, refereeing standards, financial discipline and women’s football.