The coaching staff of the Turkmenistan national football team, led by Mergen Orazov, announced the team composition for the June qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup and the training camp preceding them. This was reported by the press service of the national team.
The extended list includes 25 players:
Goalkeepers: Rustem Ahallyev (“Ahal”), Batyr Babayev (“Altyn Asyr”), Gurbanmyrat Garayev (“Arkadag”).
Defenders: Vepa Jumayev (“Vitebsk”, Belarus), Guychmyrat Annagulyev, Mekan Saparov, Yhlas Toyjanov, Abdy Bashimov, Meylis Durdyev (all “Arkadag”), Ata Geldyev, Hakmuhammet Bashimov (both “Ahal”).
Midfielders: Teymur Charyev (“Abdysh-Ata”, Kyrgyzstan), Mirza Beknazarov, Shanazar Tirkishov, Arslanmyrat Amanov, Velmyrat Ballakov (all “Arkadag”), Yazgylych Gurbanov, Alibek Abdyrahmanov (both “Ahal”).
Forwards: Didar Durdyev, Altymyrat Annadurdyev, Begench Akmammedov (all “Arkadag”), Myrat Annayev, Selim Nurmyradov (both “Altyn Asyr”), Akmammet Metdayev, Elman Tagaev (both “Ahal”).
Due to injuries, midfielder Ruslan Mingazov from Hong Kong “Kitchee” and goalkeeper “Arkadag” Rasul Charyev will not be able to play in the upcoming matches.
The national team's training camp will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from May 26 to June 4. On June 6, a match against the Uzbekistan national team will take place in Tashkent, and on June 11, Mergen Orazov’s team will host the Hong Kong team in Ashgabat.
After four rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament, the Turkmenistan national team ranks third in group “E”. Previously, Turkmen football players lost to Uzbekistan 1:3 at home, drew 2:2 away with Hong Kong, lost to Iran 0:5 away and 0:1 at home.