Ten-man Paraguay held on for a vital victory in their Group D clash with Türkiye, which saw Vincenzo Montella’s team crash out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In front of 68,827 fans at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara (San Francisco Bay Area), Matías Galarza scored after just 65 seconds, and the Albirroja then survived a long second half with 10 men after Miguel Almirón’s red card.
Türkiye controlled the ball and the territory but could not turn pressure into goals. Paraguay turned the evening into a defensive masterclass, leaving with all three points. While Paraguay know second place in Group D is up for grabs when they face Australia next, Türkiye have been knocked out, joining Haiti in suffering an early exit.
Table of Contents
Match Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | World Cup 2026 – Group D |
| Fixture | Paraguay vs. Türkiye |
| Venue | Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) |
| Attendance | 68,827 |
| Final Score | Paraguay 1 – 0 Türkiye |
First Half: Early Punch and a Red Card Reversal
Paraguay’s plan could not have started better. With just 65 seconds on the clock, Galarza found the bottom-right corner from distance following a clever flick from Julio Enciso to make it 1-0.
That early strike shaped the rest of the contest, forcing Türkiye to chase while Paraguay condensed space and waited for counters. Türkiye had 78 percent possession in the first half and outshot Paraguay 12-4, yet the scoreboard refused to budge. Mert Müldür almost leveled for Türkiye in the 35th minute, but saw his header from Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s cross first hit the crossbar and then the post.
The key moment before the interval then complicated matters for the Albirroja. Almirón was shown a straight red card in stoppage time following a VAR review after covering his mouth while speaking to Müldür (classified as unsporting behavior).
Down to 10 men for the entire second half, Paraguay adjusted into a deeper 4-4-1 block.
Goal Summary Timeline
| Minute | Goalscorer | Team | Assist / Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2′ (1:04) | Matías Galarza | Paraguay | Strike from distance into the bottom-right corner; Assist by Julio Enciso |
Second Half: A Defensive Masterclass
Türkiye dominated possession in the second half with their numerical advantage, yet they could not find their way past goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who kept out two long-range attempts from Merih Demiral and a weak header from Deniz Gül.
Müldür then failed to test the Paraguay goalkeeper with his header from Abdülkerim Bardakcı’s center, before Demiral skied an attempt from close range as Türkiye grew more frustrated.
Their best chances were still to come. Can Uzun saw his first-time effort parried away by Gill before the rebound was fired wide by Gül, while Demiral saw one last header fly narrowly wide in stoppage time. Türkiye turned the screw with waves of possession, but Paraguay’s structure and timing held.
Tactical Breakdown: Türkiye’s Volume vs Paraguay’s Resistance
The stat sheet tells a one-sided story that somehow ends 1-0. Türkiye had 78.6% possession overall—the sixth-highest figure in a FIFA World Cup match since records began in 1966. They attempted 630 passes and completed 561 of them. They produced 32 shots to Paraguay’s 7, with an expected goals (xG) edge of 1.87 to 0.29. They stacked up 12 corner kicks to none and racked 51 touches in the penalty area.
The problem was the finishing. Only five of those 32 Turkish shots were on target, and 12 were blocked. Cross accuracy hurt too, with 8 of 42 completed (19 percent). Three big chances went begging. Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Kenan Yıldız each took six shots, but only got one on target between them. Yildiz created a joint-team-high four chances, while Real Madrid’s Arda Güler crafted three.
Türkiye have now had 62 shots without scoring in their two FIFA World Cup matches—the most by any team across a two-game span without a goal since records began in 1966. Conversely, CONMEBOL nations had not won a game or held a lead before this match, marking their worst start to a tournament since 1974.
How Paraguay Survived
Paraguay’s defensive numbers were the difference. The Albirroja attempted only 177 passes and completed 93, yet they consistently made first contact. They made 47 clearances and 25 tackles, with nine interceptions and 49 recoveries. They won 54 percent of all duels, including 56 percent in the air, and finished with a 57 percent dribble success rate.
Omar Alderete and Gustavo Gómez combined for 22 clearances, five blocks, and seven aerial wins. On the flanks, Paraguay’s full-backs stepped into challenges and forced Türkiye wide. Even with 10 players, the lines remained compact and the distances tight.
Player Spotlights and Historic Milestones
The match produced several incredible individual records:
- Julio Enciso: At 22 years and 148 days, Enciso became the youngest Paraguay player to provide two assists in a single World Cup tournament since 1966. He also completed the most dribbles by a Paraguay player (6/8) in a World Cup match since Miguel Angel Benítez in 1998, whilst winning nine of his 12 duels.
- Matías Galarza: Timed at 01:04, Galarza’s goal is the fastest at a FIFA World Cup since Denmark’s Zanka scored after 55 seconds in 2018. It is also now the earliest winning goal in World Cup history, overtaking Ismael Saibari’s effort for Morocco earlier in the day (1:10). Galarza is also the first player since yellow cards were introduced in 1970 to score a goal and receive a yellow card before the 15th minute in a World Cup match.
- Juan Cáceres: The right-back posted an 8.2 rating built on volume and resolve. His 9 tackles were a match high. He won 17 duels and 5 aerials, adding 6 clearances, 1 interception, and a blocked effort.
- Abdülkerim Bardakcı: The Turkish center-back completed all 98 passes he attempted. This is the most passes with a 100 percent accuracy rate by any player in a FIFA World Cup match since 1966.
Goalkeeper Orlando Gill also had a strong night with five saves and 0.56 goals prevented.
What This Means for Group D
Türkiye, fancied by some as dark horses to go on a deep run, have been eliminated after failing to finish their chances. Paraguay, meanwhile, know second place in Group D is up for grabs when they face Australia next.
Of the last four times a team won a FIFA World Cup match after having a player sent off in the first half, Paraguay are responsible for two of them (vs. Türkiye today, and vs. Slovenia in 2002). For Paraguay, this is the blueprint when protecting a lead against a possession-heavy side. Win the first ball, crowd the second, protect the width, and let defenders set the tone.
FAQs
What was the final score between Paraguay and Türkiye?
10-man Paraguay defeated Türkiye 1-0 in their Group D match at the World Cup 2026.
Why was Miguel Almirón sent off?
Miguel Almirón was shown a straight red card in first-half stoppage time following a VAR review for unsporting behavior (covering his mouth while speaking to Mert Müldür).
What historical record did Matías Galarza’s goal break?
Timed at 1 minute and 4 seconds, Galarza’s goal became the earliest winning goal in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Ismael Saibari’s goal for Morocco (1:10) from earlier the same day.
How many shots has Türkiye taken at the World Cup without scoring?
Türkiye has taken a staggering 62 shots without scoring a goal across their first two matches—the most by any team in a two-game span since 1966.
What passing record did Abdülkerim Bardakcı set?
The Turkish defender completed 98 out of 98 attempted passes (100% accuracy), which is the highest number of passes completed flawlessly by a player in a World Cup match since records began in 1966.
