Juventus star Kenan Yildiz was left on the bench for Turkey’s World Cup opener against Australia as coach Vincenzo Montella carefully manages his fitness.

Turkey began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign without one of their brightest young stars in the starting lineup, as Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz was named among the substitutes for their opening Group Stage clash against Australia.

The Aussies are back! 🇦🇺#FIFAWorldCup

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The decision came as a surprise to many supporters, given Yildiz’s growing importance to both club and country. The 21-year-old has emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting attacking talents and was widely expected to play a key role for Turkey during the tournament.

However, reports suggest the decision was influenced by concerns over the player’s fitness. While the exact nature of the issue has not been publicly disclosed, Turkey’s coaching staff appear determined to avoid taking unnecessary risks with one of their most valuable assets.

Head coach Vincenzo Montella offered little detail when questioned about Yildiz ahead of the match. During his pre-game press conference, the former Italy international acknowledged that there were concerns regarding the physical condition of some members of his squad.

Montella admitted he had “a few doubts” about whether certain players would be capable of completing a full 90 to 100 minutes, hinting that fitness management played a significant role in his team selection decisions.

Although Yildiz was left out of the starting eleven, he remains available and could still have an important impact on the game from the bench.

The coaching staff are believed to be monitoring his condition closely as the tournament progresses.