Official: Arda Güler called up by Turkey for World Cup qualifiers after Real Madrid surge

Turkey have officially summoned Arda Güler for the upcoming World Cup qualifying window, rewarding the Real Madrid playmaker’s sharp rise. The 19-year-old closed last season with a remarkable scoring burst in La Liga and lit up Euro 2024 with a brilliant long-range strike against Georgia. Under Vincenzo Montella, Güler projects as a right-sided creator or central No.10 who drifts inside to find half-spaces, hit through balls and test goalkeepers with his cultured left foot. Expect managed minutes and a key creative brief. The call-up has energized fans, with many hailing him as the face of a new, fearless Turkey.

The Turkish Football Federation released its squad list for the next international window, confirming Arda Güler’s inclusion for World Cup qualifiers. The decision follows his strong club finish with Real Madrid and an eye-catching Euro 2024. Head coach Vincenzo Montella has consistently favored a possession-first structure that values a technical No.10 and inverted playmaker on the right - a role Güler naturally fits. With domestic calendars in full swing, the call-up also reflects coordination between the national team staff and Real Madrid to balance workload and maximize impact in a pivotal qualifying stretch.

🚨 OFFICIAL: Arda Güler is called-up by Turkey for the upcoming WC qualifiers.

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Arda Güler’s inclusion is a tactical accelerant for Turkey. Montella’s best phases have come when Turkey control tempo and progress the ball cleanly through the middle third. Güler supplies exactly that: scanning early, receiving on the half-turn, and punching vertical passes through tight lines. He is most dangerous when stationed on the right in a nominal 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, drifting into the right half-space to combine with the No.9 and the advancing right-back. His first touch sets up quick releases, and his shot profile - low backlift, late swerve - is a threat from 18 to 25 meters.

There is also a psychological ripple. A teenager starring for Real Madrid and scoring at the Euros changes the dressing-room hierarchy and gives Turkey a north star for their attacking identity. Opponents will start shading their block toward Güler, which should free central lanes for late runners and weak-side wingers. On set plays, his delivery upgrades the xG of routine corners and indirect free kicks.

For Real Madrid, the risk-reward balance is clear. International minutes sharpen rhythm and confidence, but travel and fixture density require careful management. Madrid’s staff will welcome high-intensity, high-stakes reps that stress-test his hamstrings and decision speed, provided Montella monitors load. Commercially, Turkey’s centerpiece playing and potentially deciding qualifiers boosts his global profile, which aligns with Madrid’s long-term star pathway.

Reaction

Fan sentiment skews enthusiastic, tinged with disbelief that anyone is surprised. One supporter put it bluntly: “Why wouldn’t he? He’s their biggest star.” Another called it “Amazing news,” capturing the relief of seeing form rewarded. A minority admitted surprise, perhaps recalling his injury-interrupted start last season, but those doubts feel dated after his late-season end product and Euro 2024 highlight.

There was playful exaggeration too, with a quip that “He’s the captain there” - a tongue-in-cheek way of saying the attack should flow through him. Some fans pivoted to club pride, reminding everyone that Real Madrid remain European royalty, and that elite standards tend to harden young players quickly. Typical of modern timelines, one reply veered off into sharing an AI-made song - a reminder that even big football moments sit inside noisy social feeds.

Overall, the mood combines national pride with pragmatic curiosity: how many minutes will he get, where will he start, and how will Montella balance his creative freedom with structure? The consensus is simple: give Güler the ball higher up, let him shoot when the lane opens, and live with the few turnovers that come with ambition.

Social reactions

Arda Güler called up for Turkey! 🇹🇷🌟 A major boost for the national team ahead of WC qualifiers. The future is bright. 🚀⚽

Mr. Lozini (@Loziniii)

Spain- Türkiye Final

Caglado (@dsign_c)

Official: Water is wet

Concra (@ConcraRmfc)

Prediction

Montella is likely to start Güler either as the central playmaker in a 4-2-3-1 or as an inverted right-sided creator in a 4-3-3, with a clear mandate to receive between the lines, attract pressure, and release diagonal passes into the striker’s run. Expect scripted sequences in the first 15 minutes: early switches to isolate him 1v1, decoy overlaps to free his left-footed shot, and a handful of designed set pieces to test the keeper’s far post.

Minute management will be deliberate. If Turkey control the scoreboard, look for a 65-75 minute substitution to keep his load optimal. Should the match state demand a goal, he stays on as the late-game difference-maker, where his composure and first touch are most valuable. Opponents will try to bully his zone by adding an aggressive 6 to his back; Montella’s counter is straightforward: push the fullback higher to create a 2v1 and rotate the 8 underneath.

Across the window, a goal contribution feels likely - either a driven shot from the arc or a disguised slip pass through the inside-right channel. The broader arc points to a permanent elevation: from promising prodigy to primary reference for Turkey’s attack in competitive fixtures.

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Conclusion

Arda Güler’s call-up is equal parts merit and mandate. Turkey need a technician who can sort messy phases and turn sterile possession into final-third threat. Güler already does this for Real Madrid in compressed minutes, which is the hardest context in club football. The Euro 2024 strike served as a public notice: left foot, quick picture, clean execution under pressure. That is repeatable, not a one-off.

Montella now has a profile that stitches his ideas together. Give Güler clear receiving zones, surround him with runners, and the whole structure breathes. For the player, these qualifiers are a growth spurt in real time - tougher marking, faster reads, bigger responsibility. Handle that, and he returns to Madrid sharper and more assertive. The ceiling is obvious. What changes now is the speed at which he reaches it.