In a decisive match held in Santa Clara, Paraguay secured their first victory of the World Cup 2026 by defeating Türkiye 1-0, effectively eliminating the Turks from the tournament. The sole goal came early, in the second minute, when Matías Galarza found the net, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Despite a valiant effort from Türkiye, including multiple attempts on goal in the final minutes, they were unable to break through Paraguay’s defense. Key moments in the closing stages featured shots from Hakan Çalhanoglu, Merih Demiral, and Can Uzun, but all efforts were either blocked or narrowly missed the target.
Late Game Intensity Fails to Shift the Outcome
The final minutes saw Türkiye intensify their attack, winning several set pieces and free kicks, including a corner conceded by Paraguay’s José Canale. However, the Paraguayan defense remained resolute, with tactical fouls and timely blocks from players such as Kenan Yildiz and Merih Demiral preventing any clear scoring opportunities.
Paraguay also faced challenges late in the match, necessitating two substitutions due to injuries: José Canale came on for the injured Matías Galarza, and Gabriel Ávalos replaced Julio Enciso. These changes did not disrupt Paraguay’s defensive composure as they held on to their narrow lead.
The final whistle confirmed Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Türkiye, marking a significant moment in Group D’s World Cup campaign and ending Türkiye’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament.