The past two meetings between Turkey and Wales have ended level (0-0 last month, 1-1 in November 2023) after only one of the first eight games between the pair ended in a draw (four Wales wins, three Turkey wins).
Wales have lost three of their four previous away games against Turkey (one win), with one of those seeing 10 goals scored: Turkey 6-4 Wales in August 1997 in a World Cup qualifier.
Turkey have won each of their past three games, last winning four in a row in June 2022 when all four games also came in the Nations League.
Turkey have won six of their past seven home games in all competitions, as many victories as across their previous 16 matches on home turf (eight draws, two defeats).
Craig Bellamy is already the first Wales manager to go unbeaten in his first four games and could now also become the first to go unbeaten in their first three away matches (one win, one draw).
Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu has scored four goals in his past three Turkey appearances, more than in his previous 27 international outings (three goals) – no player has scored more goals across matchdays 1-4 of this season’s Nations League.
Harry Wilson has scored in each of his past three internationals and could become the first Welshman to score in four straight appearances since Ian Rush in February 1983 (five in a row).
Where Wales finish in the Nations League will have a bearing on their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Most significantly, finishing top of Group B4 would boost their chances of getting a World Cup qualifying play-off spot via the Nations League.
Wales’ final position could also affect the timing of their bid to reach the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
If they finish second, they will enter a Nations League promotion play-off in March, meaning World Cup qualifying will not start until June or September 2025.
But if Wales top the group, they would begin their World Cup campaign in March.
“I’ve not looked at it, honest truth,” Bellamy said. “It [the Nations League] is six games to prepare for the World Cup and what scenario that’s going to be.
“What can we do in these six games to take us close to giving us a realistic and good opportunity of qualifying for the World Cup?
“I don’t care who we get in our group. There are not going to be any favours given to you, no matter what happens in these scenarios in the Nations League. There is no easy route to qualify for a World Cup, nor should there be, nor would we want there to be.”
