Matías Galarza’s strike after 2 minutes turned Türkiye’s World Cup into a collapse, as Paraguay survived with 10 men to win 1-0 at Levi’s Stadium.
The result eliminates Türkiye after two group-stage defeats, following the 2-0 loss to Australia on 14 June and this shutout in Santa Clara. For a side that produced 31 shots here and still scored none, the exit felt as cruel as it was blunt.
Galarza rocks Türkiye inside 2 minutes
Türkiye were chasing the game almost before they had settled. Galarza struck after 65 seconds, finding the bottom-left corner from around 20 metres to give Paraguay the lead that would define the night.
From there, the match became a contradiction. Türkiye had 79% possession, 31 shots, 5 on target and 11 corners to Paraguay’s 0, yet the scoreboard never moved for Vincenzo Montella’s side.
Müldür threatens as Türkiye push back
The clearest first-half sign that Türkiye might break through came in the 35th minute, when Mert Müldür headed against the post after a delivery from Hakan Çalhanoğlu. It was the kind of moment that made the final numbers feel even harsher.
Paraguay, with only 21% of the ball and 7 total shots, had already found the one action Türkiye could not copy: a finish.
Almirón sees red as Paraguay survive
Türkiye’s hopes rose again in first-half stoppage time when Miguel Almirón was shown a straight red card by referee Iván Barton. According to the match notes, the dismissal came after an incident involving words directed at Müldür, under the new rule known as the Vinícius law.
But the second half became an empty siege. Paraguay defended deep, protected Orlando Gill’s goal, and survived every wave despite Türkiye’s numerical advantage and territorial control.
Türkiye remain 4th with 0 points from 0W 0D 2L, while Paraguay climb to 3 points and 3rd place at 1W 0D 1L. Türkiye still have a final group match against the United States, but the consequence is already settled: their World Cup is over.
Match Information
Competition: World Cup, Group Stage - 2. Date & Time: Saturday 20 June 2026, 05:00 CET. Venue: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara. Referee: Iván Barton, El Salvador.
