Spanish soccer prodigy Lamine Yamal finds himself passportless in Konya, Turkey, following a mishap.
In the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match between Spain and Turkey at MEDAS Konya Metropolitan Stadium, Spain secured a commanding victory, with a final score of 6-0. Goals were scored by Pedri (twice), Merino (three times), and Ferran Torres for the Spanish team, who led 3-0 at halftime and extended their dominance in the second half.
The game, however, took an unexpected turn off the field for Spain's 18-year-old forward, Lamine Yamal. Upon boarding the team bus following the match, Yamal realised that his passport was missing. He returned to the airport apron to search through his luggage, causing a brief off-field complication to Spain's visit to Turkey.
The Spanish Football Federation took swift action, contacting Turkish authorities, and a joint effort was launched with the Konya Police Department to address the matter. After several hours, the issue was resolved, and Yamal was able to leave Turkey later that evening by private jet.
Despite this incident, it did not affect Spain's second Group E match victory in the European qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With this result, Spain maintains its lead in the group, raising its points total to six. Spain is set to host Georgia in its next match.
On the other hand, Turkey suffered its first defeat of the campaign and dropped to third place behind Georgia on goal difference. Türkiye will play its next match away against Bulgaria on October 11. Bulgaria, still without a point, sits at the bottom of the group.
In a positive note, the youth player from the Turkey national team who gained applause during the qualification is Arda Güler. He plays a key role in the future national team preparation as a promising talent called up to Turkey's senior squad for the qualifiers.
Montella, a likely sports figure, expressed interest in a potential World Cup return for Turkey and praised the growth of Turkish football, specifically the Super Lig. However, no further information was provided about Montella or his role in Turkish football.
With these results, the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to heat up, with Spain maintaining its strong position and Turkey looking to bounce back in their upcoming matches.
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