Turkey’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign came to an end after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Paraguay in a crucial Group D match on Saturday. The result marked Turkey’s second consecutive loss in the tournament, officially eliminating them from knockout-stage contention.
Meanwhile, Paraguay kept its hopes of reaching the Round of 16 alive by securing its first victory of the tournament, moving to three points after two group-stage matches.
Fastest Goal of the Tournament
Paraguay made a dream start, taking the lead just 64 seconds after kickoff. Galarza unleashed a powerful low-range strike from approximately 25 meters, beating the Turkish goalkeeper and giving Paraguay an early advantage.
The goal became the fastest scored at the FIFA World Cup 2026, surpassing the previous tournament record of 71 seconds, which had been set earlier the same day by Ismael Saibari of Morocco against Scotland.
Historic Red Card Under FIFA’s New Rule
Paraguay’s momentum was disrupted just before halftime when midfielder Miguel Almirรณn received a straight red card during stoppage time.
Almirรณn became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to be sent off under FIFA’s newly introduced disciplinary regulation that penalizes players for covering their mouths while arguing with opponents or match officials.
The incident occurred during an exchange with Turkey defender Mert Mรผldรผr. After a VAR review, the referee upheld the decision, forcing Paraguay to play the entire second half with 10 players.
Why the Rule Was Introduced
The disciplinary measure was introduced by FIFA ahead of the 2026 World Cup following an incident involving Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni, who was accused of making discriminatory remarks toward Real Madrid star Vinรญcius Jรบnior while covering his mouth during a match.
The new regulation aims to improve transparency, discourage abusive behavior, and make verbal exchanges on the field more accountable.
Turkey Unable to Capitalize
Despite enjoying greater ball possession and creating multiple attacking opportunities in the second half, Turkey struggled to break through Paraguay’s disciplined defense.
Even with a numerical advantage for the final 45 minutes, Turkey failed to find an equalizer as Paraguay’s backline remained organized and resilient until the final whistle.
Group D Standings Impact
The victory gives Paraguay a record of one win and one loss, keeping qualification hopes alive with three points.
Turkey, having lost to Australia in its opening match before falling to Paraguay, is now eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after collecting zero points from its first two group-stage matches.
Match Summary
- Result: Paraguay 1-0 Turkey
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 โ Group D
- Goal Scorer: Galarza (2nd minute/64 seconds)
- Key Incident: Miguel Almirรณn sent off after a VAR-reviewed straight red card under FIFA’s new disciplinary rule.
- Tournament Impact: Turkey eliminated; Paraguay remains in contention for the Round of 16.