Turkey Eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup After Second Defeat
Turkey's journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an early and disappointing end after a 1-0 defeat against Paraguay in their second Group D match. Having already lost 2-0 to Australia in their opening game, the Turkish national team was officially eliminated before the final round of group-stage fixtures.
Paraguay made a dream start to the match. Midfielder Matias Galarza scored after just 64 seconds with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area. The goal became the fastest scored in the tournament so far and ultimately proved to be the match-winner.
Despite conceding early, Turkey controlled most aspects of the game. Vincenzo Montella's side dominated possession, created numerous chances, and spent long periods camped inside Paraguay's half. However, they once again failed to convert opportunities into goals.
Paraguay's task became even more difficult before halftime when Miguel Almiron received a red card following a VAR review. The South American side played the entire second half with ten men, yet Turkey still could not find a breakthrough.
Mert Müldür struck the woodwork, Merih Demiral threatened from set pieces, and substitute Deniz Gül missed a golden opportunity from close range. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Orlando Gill produced several crucial saves to preserve Paraguay's lead.
Dominance Without Reward
The statistics highlighted Turkey's dominance. The team registered 32 shots against Paraguay after producing 30 attempts against Australia, bringing their tournament total to 62 shots without scoring a single goal.
According to Opta data, this represents one of the highest shot totals without a goal in a two-match World Cup span since 1966.
Turkey also posted a superior expected goals (xG) figure. Against Paraguay, Turkey generated 2.1 xG compared to Paraguay's 0.32, yet the final result once again failed to reflect the balance of play.
Montella Blames Misfortune
Head coach Vincenzo Montella described the outcome as a combination of bad luck and missed opportunities.
The Italian manager praised his players' commitment and effort, insisting that the performances deserved better results. He stated that in over three decades of football experience, he had rarely witnessed a team create so much while receiving so little reward.
Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu urged supporters to remain proud of the team's progress, while young star Arda Güler apologized to Turkish fans and promised that the squad would come back stronger in future tournaments.
Questions Remain
Turkey's elimination has triggered intense debate among pundits and former players. While many criticized the team's inability to finish chances, others pointed out that the overall level of play was far better than the results suggested.
The national team will still face the United States in its final group match, but the result will have no impact on Turkey's World Cup fate.
