(Video) Off-Pitch smoking scandal derails World Cup 2026 preparations for this team

14.06.26 FT World Cup

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Caglar Soyuncu was filmed allegedly smoking on a Vancouver hotel balcony today sparking fierce debate just hours before Turkey faces Australia.

A scandal in Vancouver

The Turkish national team's preparations for their World Cup 2026 campaign have been suddenly derailed by an off-pitch scandal.

Social media is currently flooded with a controversial video appearing to show star defender Caglar Soyuncu smoking. The footage was reportedly captured from a distance while the player stood on his hotel balcony in Canada, flanked by two individual wearing official national team tracksuits.

Disputing the evidence

According to the Turkish media outlet Haberler, the video has instantly fractured the nation's fanbase. While many supporters are outraged by the blatant lack of professionalism hours before a crucial global fixture, a significant portion of the public remains highly skeptical.

Defenders of the center back argue the grainy footage might be manipulated or misleading pointing out that definitive conclusions cannot be drawn from the current angles available online.

The deafening silence

As of now, the Turkish Football Federation has completely refused to address the situation. This deafening institutional silence is only fueling further speculation. With their critical Group Stage clash against Australia kicking off tomorrow morning, the coaching staff is under immense pressure to either publicly back their defensive anchor or issue a rapid disciplinary suspension to maintain squad standards.

The ultimate taboo in elite football

While smoking was heavily normalized in football decades ago, with legends like Johan Cruyff frequently lighting up at halftime, modern sports science has completely eradicated the habit at the elite level.

Catching a star player smoking inevitably triggers explosive disciplinary action. Arsenal fans vividly remember the infamous 2015 incident involving Wojciech Szczesny.

Following a disastrous 2-0 defeat to Southampton, the Polish goalkeeper was caught smoking a cigarette in the stadium showers. Manager Arsene Wenger was absolutely furious, immediately slapping Szczesny with a massive £20,000 fine and dropping him from the Premier League starting lineup entirely.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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