The upcoming international friendly between Türkiye and North Macedonia will serve as the final home rehearsal for the ‘Crescent Stars’ before they head to the World Cup. Scheduled for Monday in Istanbul, this encounter offers Türkiye a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their preparations and maintain their impressive momentum. For North Macedonia, who missed out on qualification for the global tournament, this match is a chance to test themselves against a high-flying opponent and regain some attacking rhythm after a series of low-scoring performances.

Türkiye’s Recent Form and Key Stats

Türkiye approach this friendly in excellent shape, having secured qualification for the World Cup through play-off victories over Romania and Kosovo. Both matches ended 1-0, extending their unbeaten streak to six games (five wins and one draw). During this run, they have shown remarkable defensive discipline, conceding only three goals and keeping three clean sheets. Their home form has also been particularly strong, with three consecutive wins and just one goal conceded across those fixtures.

In terms of attacking output, Türkiye have averaged 3.0 goals scored per match over their last five outings, while conceding an average of 0.8 goals. This balance between offensive efficiency and defensive solidity makes them clear favorites heading into this friendly. Ranked first in the Friendly International standings, the team will look to maintain their rhythm and confidence before facing the United States, Paraguay, and Australia in Group D of the upcoming World Cup.

• Last 5 matches: 4 wins, 1 draw, 0 defeats.


• Average goals scored: 3.0 | Average goals conceded: 0.8.


• Last match: Türkiye 1-0 Romania (26 March 2026).


• Win probability: 70%.

North Macedonia’s Recent Form and Key Stats

North Macedonia enter this fixture looking to rediscover their scoring touch after a difficult run in front of goal. Their most recent competitive outing ended in a heavy 4-0 defeat to Denmark in the play-offs, followed by goalless draws against Ireland and Bosnia & Herzegovina in April. These results highlight their current struggles in attack, with four scoreless performances in their last five matches. Away from home, the pattern has been similar, as they have failed to score in four of their last five away games, three of which ended 0-0.

Despite these challenges, North Macedonia have shown occasional resilience, recording two wins and two draws in their last five matches overall. However, their defensive record remains inconsistent, with an average of 1.6 goals conceded per match. Ranked second in the Friendly International standings, they will need to tighten up at the back and find more creativity in the final third if they are to trouble Türkiye on their own turf.

• Last 5 matches: 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat.


• Average goals scored: 1.6 | Average goals conceded: 1.6.


• Last defeat: 1-7 vs Wales (18 November 2025).


• Season stats in Friendlies: 0 wins, 2 draws, 0 defeats (0.0 goals scored, 0.0 conceded).

Türkiye vs North Macedonia: Tactical Overview and Head-to-Head

Historically, meetings between these two nations have been tight and low-scoring. The last head-to-head encounter ended in a 0-0 draw back in June 2017, and the overall record slightly favors North Macedonia, who have one win and one draw from their two previous meetings. The average goals across those matches stand at just 0.5 per game, reinforcing the expectation of another cautious affair.

Given Türkiye’s strong defensive form and North Macedonia’s recent scoring drought, this fixture could follow a similar pattern. The hosts are expected to control possession and create more chances, while the visitors may focus on maintaining a compact shape and hitting on the counterattack. However, with Türkiye’s current momentum and home advantage, they are well-positioned to secure a narrow victory while keeping another clean sheet.

Match Prediction and Betting Outlook

All indicators point toward a low-scoring contest. Türkiye’s defensive consistency and North Macedonia’s lack of cutting edge in attack suggest that goals will be at a premium. The statistical trends also support this view: the probability for Under 2.5 goals stands at 57%, while Over 2.5 goals has a 43% likelihood. Additionally, the Both Teams To Score market leans toward No with 57% probability, further emphasizing the likelihood of a controlled, defensive match.

Considering the current form and head-to-head history, Türkiye are clear favorites to win, with a 70% chance of victory compared to North Macedonia’s 11%. However, the most consistent trend across their recent performances points toward a match with limited scoring opportunities.

Türkiye vs North Macedonia prediction from BetMines: Under 2.5 goals with 57% probability.