Turkey Crashes Out of 2026 World Cup After Shock Defeat to 10-Man Paraguay

Rabat – Turkey has been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 1-0 defeat to a 10-man Paraguay side, with the result confirming the exit of Vincenzo Montella’s team with a group match still to play and handing qualification control of Group D to the United States.

Paraguay struck almost immediately, with Matías Galarza firing home a low drive from the edge of the box after just 64 seconds — the fastest goal of the tournament so far. Despite conceding early, Turkey dominated long spells of possession and created numerous chances but failed to convert their superiority into goals.

The match took a dramatic turn before half-time when MLS forward Miguel Almirón was sent off following an unusual incident in which he covered his mouth during an on-field exchange with an opponent, reducing Paraguay to 10 men.

Even with a numerical advantage, Turkey was unable to break through a disciplined Paraguayan defense. The result means the team exits the competition having failed to score across their first two group matches, despite registering 62 shots in total.

Against Paraguay alone, Turkey produced 33 attempts and controlled nearly 80% of possession, but their lack of clinical finishing proved decisive and ultimately fatal to their campaign.

The elimination comes as a major disappointment for a side that entered the tournament with high expectations following a strong showing at Euro 2024, where they reached the quarter-finals and were widely praised for their emerging generation of talent.

Among them, Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler expressed his disappointment after the match, issuing an apology to supporters and acknowledging that the team fell short of the standards expected at international level.

Statistical analysis highlights the scale of Turkey’s attacking struggles, with the team failing to score from 62 shots across two matches — arguably the most inefficient record in recent World Cup history.

Turkey will play their final group-stage match against the United States, but the result will have no impact on its elimination from the tournament.

Meanwhile, Haiti’s campaign also came to an end after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, which confirmed their elimination from Group C.