Paraguay Beat 10-Man Turkiye 1-0 to Stay Alive as Turkish World Cup Dream Ends

Paraguay kept their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive with a determined 1-0 victory over Turkiye in a crucial Group D encounter, while the defeat officially eliminated the Turkish side from the tournament.

The match, played under intense pressure for both teams, was decided by an early goal from Paraguay star Julio Enciso. The 22-year-old forward capitalised on a defensive mistake and calmly slotted the ball past Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayındır to give Paraguay a lead they would protect for the remainder of the contest.

Turkiye’s chances of mounting a comeback suffered a major blow midway through the first half when experienced defender Merih Demiral was shown a red card. The dismissal reduced Vincenzo Montella’s side to 10 men and forced them to play most of the match at a numerical disadvantage. Despite being a player down, Turkiye continued to press forward and created several opportunities, but Paraguay’s defence remained organised and disciplined.

Paraguay controlled much of the midfield through the efforts of Diego Gómez and Andrés Cubas, while goalkeeper Carlos Coronel produced a composed performance whenever Turkiye threatened. The South American side also had chances to increase their advantage, but the single goal proved enough to secure a vital three points.

The victory represented a dramatic turnaround for Paraguay after their disappointing start to the tournament. In their opening Group D match, they were heavily beaten 4-1 by the United States. However, the win over Turkiye moved Paraguay to four points from two matches after also benefiting from results elsewhere in the group. For Turkiye, the defeat compounded the disappointment of their opening 2-0 loss to Australia. Having failed to collect a single point from their first two matches, they were mathematically eliminated from contention for a place in the Round of 32. The result marked an abrupt end to a campaign that had begun with hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Group D remains led by the United States, who strengthened their position with a 2-0 victory over Australia. Paraguay now head into their final group match against Australia knowing that a positive result could secure qualification, while Turkiye face the United States with only pride left to play for. Enciso’s decisive strike and Paraguay’s resilient performance ultimately proved the difference, ensuring the South Americans remain firmly in the race for a place in the World Cup knockout rounds while ending Turkiye’s campaign.