World Cup: Wasteful Turkey crash as 10-man Paraguay win 1-0

Turkey became the first team to crash out of the FIFA World Cup after a wasteful display ended with a 1-0 defeat by 10-man Paraguay in a tense Group D clash at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Friday.

Paraguay produced a spirited defensive performance after being reduced to 10 men before half-time, holding off wave after wave of Turkish attacks to secure a crucial victory and keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

Turkey vs Paraguay, FIFA World Cup 2026: UPDATES

The decisive moment came just 64 seconds into the match when Matias Galarza unleashed a powerful low drive from around 25 meters that flew into the bottom corner. The strike became the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup, surpassing the 71-second effort scored by Morocco’s Ismael Saibari against Scotland earlier in the day.

Paraguay’s task became significantly more difficult in first-half stoppage time when Miguel Almiron received a straight red card after a clash with Turkish defender Mert Muldur. The midfielder became the first player to be dismissed under FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule, which was introduced to prevent players from hiding offensive or discriminatory remarks during on-pitch disputes.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Paraguay produced a remarkable defensive display after the break. Turkey dominated proceedings, registering 32 shots, 51 touches inside the penalty area, 12 corners and nearly 80 percent of possession, but repeatedly failed to assert their dominance.

Turkey’s players were devastated after the final whistle, with several collapsing on the pitch after seeing their World Cup hopes dashed. Their best chance came late in the game when Merih Demiral headed wide from close range to cap a frustrating evening in front of goal.

For Paraguay, the victory marked a significant response to the 4-1 defeat against the United States in the opening round. The result took them three points level with Australia and kept them firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stages. The United States were also confirmed as Group D winners following Paraguay’s triumph.

Meanwhile, Turkey became the first team to be mathematically eliminated from the tournament. Having lost to both Australia and Paraguay, they cannot finish above either side regardless of the result of their final group game against the United States due to a tie.

Paraguay will now face Australia in the final group stage decider, with qualification for the round of 32 still within reach. The expanded format also allows the eight best third-placed teams in the tournament to advance to the knockout stages.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

20 Jun 2026 10:55 IST