Turkey became the first team to be eliminated from the FIFA World Cup after a wasteful display ended in a 1-0 defeat to 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 stage alive.
Turkiye vs Paraguay, FIFA World Cup 2026: UPDATES
The decisive moment arrived just 64 seconds into the contest when Matias Galarza unleashed a powerful low drive from around 25 metres that flew into the bottom corner. The strike became the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup, eclipsing the 71-second effort scored by Morocco’s Ismael Saibari against Scotland earlier in the day.
Paraguay’s task became considerably harder in first-half stoppage time when Miguel Almiron was shown a straight red card following a confrontation with Turkey defender Mert Muldur. The midfielder became the first player dismissed under FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule, introduced to prevent players from concealing abusive or discriminatory remarks during on-field disputes.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Paraguay delivered 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 possession but repeatedly failed to make their superiority count.
The Turkish players were left devastated at the final whistle, with several collapsing to the turf after seeing their World Cup hopes disappear. Their best opportunity came late in the match when Merih Demiral headed wide from close range, encapsulating a frustrating evening in front of goal.
For Paraguay, the victory marked a significant response to their 4-1 defeat against the United States in the opening round. The result lifted them to 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.
Turkey, meanwhile, 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 outcome of their final group match against the United States due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Paraguay will now face Australia in a decisive final group-stage encounter, with qualification to the Round of 32 still within reach. The expanded format also allows the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament to progress to the knockout rounds.
FIFA World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | Football News
– Ends
