Turkey vs Bulgaria Prediction and Betting Tips for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 17:00 GMT. The match will take place at Bursa’s Timsah Arena and be broadcast live on Amazon Prime and DAZN. Turkey are still chasing Spain for top spot in Group E, while Bulgaria are fighting to end a rough campaign. In this article, you’ll discover expert insights and World Cup Predictions from XpertStats’ football analysts.

• Turkey have won three of their last four qualifying games in Group E.
• Bulgaria remain winless, scoring just once and conceding 16 goals.
• Vincenzo Montella’s side could secure a playoff spot with a win.
• Kenan Yildiz and Arda Güler expected to lead Turkey’s attacking charge.

Turkey have been one of the more entertaining sides in this qualification phase. Three wins from four and a goal difference of +7 say it all. Montella’s men brushed past Georgia 4-1 last month, building on an earlier 6-1 demolition of Bulgaria. The only setback came against Spain, a brutal 6-0 reminder of the gap still to close. But at home, with the Bursa crowd roaring, the Crescent-Stars look a different beast. Hakan Çalhanoğlu is pulling strings in midfield, while Kenan Yildiz’s rise continues to impress. Can Turkey really keep this momentum rolling toward a top-two finish? It sure feels like it.

Bulgaria, meanwhile, arrive in crisis mode. Four defeats from four and just one goal scored tell a grim story. Aleksandar Dimitrov’s squad looks short on confidence and cohesion. The defensive line has leaked ten goals in the last two games alone, including that 6-1 hammering by Turkey. Captain Kiril Despodov remains their one bright spark, a player capable of magic in the final third, but the supporting cast has struggled. It’s hard to imagine a dramatic turnaround here, though football loves a surprise or at least the illusion of one.

Still, pride can be a powerful motivator. Bulgaria can’t qualify, but spoiling Turkey’s party might be their last bit of firewood to burn. Marin Petkov could offer a spark on the wing, while Martin Minchev’s pressing could unsettle Turkey’s back line if the visitors show courage. That said, this fixture’s recent history is all red and white: three straight wins for Turkey, 12 goals scored, and barely a moment of doubt. The Lions haven’t beaten their neighbors since 2005. Can that really change on Saturday? Probably not, but stranger things have happened.

With the stakes sky-high for the hosts, expect a controlled but assertive display from Montella’s side. They’ll push early, look to dominate possession, and manage the tempo once ahead. Bulgaria will likely sit deep, hoping to limit the damage. It’s shaping up to be a one-sided affair, though the pressure of expectation can sometimes play tricks. Either way, the Crescent-Stars have the edge in every department. For more detailed insights and fresh data-driven forecasts, check out our World Cup Predictions hub at XpertStats.