Turkey Crash Out Of World Cup After Paraguay 1-0 Defeat

Paraguay boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Turkey despite playing the entire second half with 10 men.

Matias Galarza scored after just 64 seconds to hand Paraguay an early lead in the Group D clash, while Miguel Almiron's first-half dismissal set up a tense battle that ultimately ended Turkey's hopes of progressing.

The victory moves Paraguay firmly back into contention for a place in the Round of 32, while Turkey are eliminated after suffering a second consecutive defeat.

Paraguay made the perfect start when Galarza unleashed a strike from outside the penalty area less than two minutes into the match. The goal was the fastest scored at the tournament so far and proved enough to separate the two sides.

Turkey dominated possession and territory for much of the contest but failed to convert their superiority into goals.

Their task appeared to become easier in first-half stoppage time when former Newcastle United midfielder Miguel Almiron was shown a red card following a VAR review. The referee ruled that Almiron violated a newly introduced FIFA regulation after covering his mouth during a confrontation with defender Mert Muldur.

With a numerical advantage for the entire second half, Turkey launched wave after wave of attacks but were repeatedly frustrated by Paraguay's disciplined defending and goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

Mert Muldur came closest when his deflected header struck both the crossbar and the post, while Merih Demiral, Deniz Gul and Can Uzun all squandered promising opportunities.

Despite registering 32 shots and controlling nearly 79 per cent of possession, Turkey managed only one effort on target and once again failed to find the back of the net.

The defeat continues a remarkable trend for Vincenzo Montella's side, who have now attempted 62 shots across their opening two matches without scoring a single goal. According to Opta, it is the highest number of attempts without a goal across any two-match span in World Cup history since records began in 1966.

Paraguay, who were thrashed 4-1 by hosts United States in their opening game, showed resilience and determination to secure three vital points.

The South Americans now know that victory over Australia in their final group match will guarantee passage to the knockout rounds.

For Turkey, however, the tournament is effectively over. Despite producing attractive attacking football and dominating possession in both matches, their inability to convert chances has condemned them to an early exit from the World Cup.