Live Blog! Türkiye vs Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup 2026
Türkiye and Paraguay enter their second World Cup match under immense pressure after opening-round defeats. In Santa Clara, three points could mean survival, while another loss could push either team to the brink of elimination.
90'+7' Full-time in Santa Clara
The final whistle blows and Paraguay secures a massive victory to keep its World Cup hopes alive in Group D. Matías Galarza's early strike proved decisive as La Albirroja held on despite playing the second half with ten men following Miguel Almirón's red card.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
90' Seven minutes added on
The fourth official signals seven minutes of stoppage time. Türkiye pushes forward in search of an equalizer, while Paraguay looks to hold on with ten men and secure a crucial victory.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
81' Paraguay makes a defensive change
Alexandro Maidana replaces Juan José Cáceres as Paraguay looks to protect its lead in the closing stages.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
71' Yellow card for Eren Elmalı
Eren Elmalı goes into the referee's book after undercutting Juan José Cáceres during an aerial challenge. It is Türkiye's first yellow card of the match.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
71' Play resumes
The hydration break comes to an end and the match is back underway in Santa Clara. Türkiye continues its search for an equalizer while Paraguay defends its lead with ten men.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
68' Hydration break
Play is temporarily stopped for a hydration break as players from both teams head to the sidelines for water and tactical instructions.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
67' Paraguay makes a substitution
Gustavo Velázquez comes on for Diego Gómez as Paraguay looks to protect its lead in the closing stages.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
62' Türkiye misses a big chance
Kenan Yıldız got on the end of a pass from Can Uzun after a counterattack, but his effort from inside the box drifted wide of the target.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
60' Double substitution for Türkiye
Deniz Gül and Can Uzun come on for Yunus Akgün and İsmail Yüksek as Türkiye looks for a way back into the match.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
46' Türkiye makes a halftime change
As the second half begins, Vincenzo Montella turns to his bench. Barış Alper Yılmaz replaces Kerem Aktürkoğlu, adding fresh attacking energy as Türkiye looks to capitalize on its numerical advantage and find an equalizer.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
46' Second half underway
The second half is now underway in Santa Clara. Türkiye will look to take advantage of its extra man following Miguel Almirón's red card, while Paraguay aims to protect its lead and move closer to a crucial Group D victory.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
45'+11' Halftime in Santa Clara
The first half comes to an end after a dramatic opening 45 minutes. Paraguay heads into the break with the lead thanks to Matías Galarza's early goal, but will have to play the entire second half with ten men following Miguel Almirón's red card after a VAR review.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
45'+3' Paraguay reduced to ten men!
After consulting the pitchside monitor, Iván Barton decides to issue a straight red card to Miguel Almirón. The referee judges the incident involving Mert Müldür worthy of a dismissal, forcing Paraguay to play the remainder of the match with ten players.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
45+1' Barton sent to the monitor for possible red card
Tension rises in Santa Clara as referee Iván Barton is called to the pitchside monitor to review a potential red-card incident involving Miguel Almirón and Mert Müldür. Players from both teams await a decision that could have a major impact on the match.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
45' Six minutes added on
The fourth official indicates six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half. Several interruptions, including the hydration break and medical attention, have extended the opening period in Santa Clara.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
29' Play resumes
The match is back underway following the hydration break. Türkiye looks to respond after Paraguay's early opener, while La Albirroja aims to protect its advantage and keep control of the game.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
26' Hydration break
Play is temporarily halted for the match's first hydration break. Players from both teams gather near the sidelines to rehydrate and receive instructions before action resumes.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
22' Güler wins a free kick
Arda Güler is brought down in his own half following a challenge from Andrés Cubas. Türkiye earns a free kick and a chance to slow the tempo as it looks for a way back into the match.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
4' First booking of the match
Goalscorer Matías Galarza becomes the first player cautioned after a heavy challenge on Yunus Akgün. The Paraguayan midfielder will now have to manage the remainder of the match carefully.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
2' Goal! Paraguay strikes first
Paraguay takes an early lead. Julio Enciso set up the play with a precise pass before Matías Galarza unleashed a left-footed effort from outside the box that found the back of the net just moments after kickoff.
Score: Türkiye 0-1 Paraguay
1' Kickoff in Santa Clara!
The match is underway at Levi's Stadium as Türkiye and Paraguay begin a crucial Group D showdown. Both sides enter the contest needing a positive result after opening their World Cup campaigns with defeats.
Score: Türkiye 0-0 Paraguay
Türkiye's Starting XI
Paraguay's Starting XI
Türkiye and Paraguay Fight to Survive
The second matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D delivers one of the most important games of the tournament so far. Türkiye and Paraguay arrive at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara knowing that anything less than a victory could seriously damage their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
What was supposed to be a celebration of two long-awaited World Cup returns has quickly become a fight for survival. With the United States and Australia already holding an advantage in the group, the pressure on both teams has reached another level.
Two Long-Awaited Returns That Started With Disappointment
The excitement surrounding both nations was impossible to ignore. Paraguay returned to the World Cup after a 16-year absence under the leadership of Gustavo Alfaro, while Türkiye made its first World Cup appearance since 2002, the year it stunned the football world by finishing third.
Paraguay suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against the United States, while Vincenzo Montella's Türkiye fell 2-0 to Australia despite controlling stretches of the match. The Turkish side created opportunities but lacked the finishing touch needed to capitalize on its possession.
Arda Güler and Julio Enciso Take Center Stage
If there is one individual battle that captures attention, it is the showdown between Arda Güler and Julio Enciso, two young stars expected to carry the hopes of their nations.
Türkiye will once again look to the creativity and vision of the Real Madrid midfielder, who remains the heartbeat of Montella's attacking plans. There is also optimism surrounding Kenan Yıldız, who could return to the starting lineup after dealing with physical discomfort that limited his involvement in the opener.
For Paraguay, Enciso and Miguel Almirón represent the team's biggest offensive threats. Their ability to create chances and drive the attack will be essential if La Albirroja hopes to bounce back after its difficult debut.
A Match That Could Shape the Entire Group D Race
A victory would revive confidence and keep qualification hopes firmly alive. A draw would complicate matters for both sides. A defeat could leave the losing team needing a miracle in the final round.
History offers little guidance heading into this encounter. Türkiye and Paraguay have almost no shared competitive history, with their only previous meeting coming in a friendly match back in 1995. That unfamiliarity adds another layer of unpredictability to an already tense occasion.
