UEFA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has set his sights on the 2026 World Cup following Türkiye's elimination in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, expressing optimism about the national team's future prospects.

"From now on, we will walk by raising the target," Erdoğan told journalists aboard his return flight from Germany on July 7.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is watching the EURO 2024 quarter-final match between Türkiye and the Netherlands in Berlin from the stands.

Buildup to the European Championship quarterfinal between Turkey and the Netherlands has been overshadowed by a diplomatic row. Turkey defender Merih Demiral's hand gesture after scoring against Austria has sparked a dispute between his country and host nation Germany. Demiral was banned on Friday for making a gesture used by Turkish nationalists and associated with an ultra-nationalist group.

Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it "deeply regrets" Turkish national team player Merih Demiral's suspension by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for two matches over his alleged nationalist gesture during the Türkiye-Austria Euro 2024 elimination match.

Members of Berlin's large Turkish community have vowed to paint the town red when their team comes to the German capital to play the Netherlands in Euro 2024 on July 6.

"The atmosphere will be like a home game for us," said Muhammet Ali Sevilmiş, 36, who runs a phone repair shop in Berlin's Kreuzberg district.

Τurkey defender Merih Demiral is to be banned for two games by UEFA following a gesture he made during his side's last-16 win against Austria on Tuesday and will miss Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Netherlands, German media reported.

Cristiano Ronaldo is under investigation by UEFA for alleged “false advertising” following his social media post during Portugal’s dramatic penalty shootout win over Slovenia at Euro 2024. Ronaldo shared his heart rate data and mentioned the measurement company WHOOP, raising concerns about unauthorized advertising.

Background

The players presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative shirt bearing their signatures and invited him to a friendly match against the UEFA All-Stars in Essen, Germany, Rehhagel’s birthplace, on July 11, marking the 20th anniversary of Greece’s triumph.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has canceled his scheduled visit to Azerbaijan to instead attend the Euro 2024 quarterfinal match in Berlin between Türkiye and the Netherlands on July 6.

The president was initially slated to attend the Organization of Turkic States summit in the Shusha city on the same day. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is expected to attend the event.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement on Wednesday regarding UEFA's disciplinary investigation against Turkish footballer Merih Demiral, who made a gesture associated with the ultra-nationalist Gray Wolves group during the Euro 2024 match against Austria on Tuesday.