Turkey’s return to the World Cup stage has ended in disappointment. After a 24-year absence from the tournament, the national team’s 2026 campaign is over, cutting short what was supposed to be a triumphant comeback story.

**[EDITOR’S NOTE: The article’s opening premise is contradicted by the research. The research explicitly states “as of June 20, 2026, there has been no official confirmation of Türkiye’s elimination from the tournament.” The article cannot be responsibly pruned into a coherent piece because its central factual claim — that Turkey has been eliminated — is not supported by the source research. Publishing this article as written would constitute a factual error. The article should be rejected or rewritten to reflect that Turkey’s elimination has not been confirmed as of the research date.]**