Paraguay Keeps World Cup Dream Alive with Gritty Win Over Turkey

By Fernando Abarca

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Paraguay secured a hard-fought and crucial 1-0 victory over Turkey in Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Bay Area Stadium, showing resilience, determination, and defensive discipline to keep its hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.

The decisive moment came almost immediately after kickoff. Just two minutes into the match, Atlanta United midfielder Matías Galarza finished off a brilliant attacking move initiated by Julio Enciso to score what proved to be the winning goal. The early strike stunned a Turkish side that entered the match needing a victory following its opening-round defeat and never fully recovered from the setback.

Controversy arrived before halftime when Miguel Almirón was shown a straight red card after an altercation with Mert Müldür. Following a VAR review, the referee upheld the dismissal under FIFA’s newly implemented regulation regarding covering one's mouth during on-field confrontations. The decision quickly became one of the most debated moments of the tournament so far.

El Salvadoran referee Iván Barton also came under scrutiny for several contentious decisions throughout the match. However, VAR supported the red-card ruling, leaving Paraguay to play the entire second half with 10 men.

With the numerical advantage, Turkey dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities, much like in its previous defeat against Australia. Yet the Crescent Stars repeatedly ran into Paraguay’s organized defensive structure and struggled to find the finishing touch when it mattered most.

Paraguay’s supporters, who turned out in large numbers in Santa Clara, played a major role throughout the contest. Their relentless backing echoed around the stadium as they celebrated every clearance and defensive stop as if it were a goal. At the final whistle, the Paraguayan players gathered with their fans to celebrate a victory that keeps their World Cup hopes alive heading into the final group-stage match.

Following Turkey’s elimination, captain Arda Güler expressed his disappointment and apologized to supporters, admitting the team had fallen short of expectations. Head coach Vincenzo Montella also lamented his side’s lack of attacking efficiency and inability to convert chances into goals.

Meanwhile, Group D leaders United States will return to action in Los Angeles against Turkey. The host nation, known as “the team of all,” will then travel to Santa Clara for its Round of 16 match on July 1 after closing out the group stage on June 25.