Image: from ARISE NEWS X @ARISEtv
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Paraguay secured its first points of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Turkey in Santa Clara, California, a result that eliminated the Turkish side from the tournament and revived South American hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
An early goal from Matías Galarza proved decisive as Paraguay held firm throughout a tense encounter, despite playing the entire second half with ten men following the dismissal of captain Miguel Almirón.
Dream Start for Paraguay
The match could hardly have begun better for Paraguay. Just two minutes after kickoff, Galarza found the breakthrough, giving the South Americans an early advantage that they would ultimately protect for the remainder of the contest.
Turkey responded by dominating possession and launching wave after wave of attacks, but Paraguay remained organized defensively and managed to frustrate their opponents throughout the evening.
The challenge became even greater just before halftime when Almirón was shown a red card in stoppage time after an altercation with a Turkish player. Reduced to ten men, Paraguay faced a daunting task in the second half.
Defensive Resilience Secures Vital Victory
Despite being a man down, Paraguay produced a disciplined defensive display to preserve their lead.
Turkey controlled the ball for long periods and spent much of the match camped inside the Paraguayan half. However, the South Americans defended with determination and limited clear-cut opportunities, ensuring that Galarza’s early strike remained the difference between the two teams.
The victory lifts Paraguay to three points in Group D, level with Australia, while the United States leads the group with six points and has already secured qualification for the Round of 32.
Turkey, meanwhile, remains without a point after two matches and is mathematically eliminated from the competition.
Historic Statistics Highlight Turkey’s Frustration
The defeat was particularly remarkable given Turkey’s extraordinary attacking numbers throughout the tournament.
According to statistics highlighted by football analyst MisterChip, no team in World Cup history had previously lost a match after registering 30 or more shots while enjoying more than 70 percent possession.
Turkey has now achieved that unwanted distinction twice at the 2026 tournament.
Against Australia, they recorded over 30 attempts on goal and 72 percent possession, but still lost. Against Paraguay, they were even more dominant statistically, finishing with 78 percent possession, yet once again failed to score.
Across their two group matches, Turkey conceded three goals from only 16 opposition shots, six of which were on target, underlining the contrast between their attacking production and overall effectiveness.
A Record No Team Wanted
Turkey’s inability to convert chances has placed them alongside one of the most infamous World Cup records.
MisterChip noted that the previous benchmark for consecutive World Cup matches without scoring belonged to Italy during the 1966 tournament, when the Italians failed to score despite producing 49 shots across matches against the Soviet Union and North Korea.
Turkey has now joined an unfortunate chapter of World Cup history, combining overwhelming possession and attacking intent with a complete lack of end product.
For Paraguay, however, the result keeps qualification hopes alive heading into the final round of group-stage matches. With momentum restored and knockout football still within reach, the South Americans remain firmly in contention for a place in the next phase of the tournament.