Turkey will be desperate to right the ship after a stunning collapse last time out when they resume their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign against Bulgaria on Saturday.
The September window couldn't have gone much worse for Bulgaria, who opened their UEFA qualifying campaign with two heavy defeats, conceding six goals without finding the net.
They were brushed aside 3-0 by Spain in Sofia before suffering an identical 3-0 setback against Georgia just days later. Head coach Ilian Iliev Dimitrov now finds his side under pressure to show some fight against a far more talented Turkish outfit.
Led by Vincenzo Montella, Turkey have become one of Europe's most entertaining sides, blending flair with fluid attacking football. Inspired by midfield maestro Hakan Calhanoglu and teenage sensation Arda Guler, they edged past Georgia in a thrilling 3-2 win but were then humbled 6-0 by Spain in a result that shocked many. Expect Montella's men to come out fired up, eager to prove that humiliation was just a blip.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.
How to watch Bulgaria vs Turkiye online - TV channels & live streams
 | DirecTV Stream | Watch here |
 | Sling TV | Watch here |
 | ViX | Watch here |
In the United States (US), the match between Bulgaria and Turkiye will be available to watch and stream online live throughDirecTV Stream, Sling TV and ViX.
Check out GOAL's Live Match Centrefor updates.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport.
Bulgaria vs Turkiye kick-off time
The World Cup Qualification match between Bulgaria and Turkiye will be played at Vasil Levski Sofia in Sofia, Bulgaria.
It will kick off at 11:45 am PT / 2:45 pm ET on Saturday, October 11, 2025, in the US.
Team news & squads
Bulgaria vs Turkiye lineups
4-4-1-1
Formation
4-2-3-1
TURBGR-Line up
BGRSubstitutes
Manager
A. Dimitrov
TUR-Line up
TURSubstitutes
Manager
V. Montella
Injuries and Suspended players
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
Bulgaria team news
For Bulgaria, Vladimir Nikolov is expected to spearhead the attack once again as he continues to chase his first international goal.
Despite the back-to-back defeats, Dimitrov is unlikely to overhaul his lineup, preferring stability over panic.
Between the posts, Svetoslav Vutsov looks set to keep his place ahead of Dmitar Mitov, who remains the most experienced goalkeeper in the squad with 11 caps.
Turkiye team news
Turkey, meanwhile, are likely to stick with the same core group that endured the Spanish onslaught, with Montella keen to give his regulars a shot at redemption.
Kerem Akturkoglu, who has already bagged 14 goals for the national team, will once again operate in the attacking third alongside Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz.
In midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu will wear the armband and pull the strings, while Merih Demiral and Abdulkerim Bardakci are expected to anchor the backline as Turkey look to bounce back in style.
Form
BGR-Form
BGR- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 3/14
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 5/5
- Both teams scored
- 2/5
TUR-Form
TUR- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 8/10
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 4/5
- Both teams scored
- 2/5
Head-to-Head Record
BGRLast 3 matches
TUR1
Win
0
Draws
2
Wins
Goals scored
7- Games over 2.5 goals
- 2/3
- Both teams scored
- 1/3