Turkey's national team suffered a 0-1 defeat to Paraguay in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending their chances of advancing from Group D.

Vincenzo Montella's side, managed by the 52-year-old Italian, lost their second consecutive match in the tournament, guaranteeing last place in the group with one game remaining.

The match started disastrously for Turkey, as Paraguay's 24-year-old midfielder Matias Galarsa opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a long-range strike into the bottom left corner.

Despite dominating possession, Turkey struggled to create clear chances in the penalty area. Long-range efforts were either blocked or missed the target.

A historic red card for Paraguay did not help Turkey. In first-half stoppage time, 32-year-old Miguel Almiron was sent off for covering his mouth with his hand while speaking to an opponent — the first such dismissal in World Cup history.

Playing with a man advantage in the second half, Turkey failed to equalize. The team, featuring players from top European clubs, registered 32 shots but none found the net.

Paraguay now have three points and will compete with Australia for second place in the group. The United States have already secured top spot, while Turkey are eliminated after two matches.

Source: kun.uz