Turkiye have set an unwanted record following their 1-0 loss against Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A lone goal from Matias Galarza gave the South American side the edge over Bizim Cocuklar in their second group match. The defeat eliminated Turkiye from the tournament, and they will face co-hosts the United States on Friday, June 26.
Paraguay Hold On Despite Red Card
Paraguay secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Turkiye on Saturday, June 20, despite playing with 10 men for more than half of the match at the San Francisco Bay Area. Matias Galarza scored after just 65 seconds, netting the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup so far. Paraguay's task became more difficult late in the first half when Miguel Almiron was shown a straight red card for violating FIFA's new rule prohibiting players from covering their mouths during confrontations. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Paraguay managed to protect their lead thanks to several outstanding saves from goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
Turkiye's Missed Chances
Ay-Yildizlilar came close to equalising before halftime when Mert Muldur headed a free-kick against both the crossbar and the post. The defeat eliminated Turkiye from contention for a place in the knockout stages after suffering a second consecutive loss. For the second match in a row, the Turks dominated possession but failed to convert their superiority into goals. They followed their 2-0 defeat to Australia with another disappointing result, ensuring an early exit from their first World Cup appearance in 24 years. Turkiye qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2002 but were unable to replicate the memorable campaign that saw them finish third in the world.
Unwanted Record Set
Turkiye registered 32 shots against Paraguay in their Group D clash but were unable to find the back of the net. Following their 2-0 loss to Australia in the opening match, Turkiye became only the second team after Haiti to be eliminated from the tournament. The Turks have now recorded the most shots without scoring across their opening two World Cup matches in tournament history, managing 62 attempts without a single goal. No team since records began in 1966 has attempted more shots across two World Cup games without finding the net.
Montella's Reaction
Vincenzo Montella bemoaned his side's misfortune after they failed to find the net despite a plethora of chances in both defeats. He said via Mirror: 'I'm sad, but also very proud of my players. They gave their all until the final whistle. Football is like that sometimes.'
Cristiano Ronaldo's Drought
Legit.ng earlier reported that Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his goal drought at major international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. The Al Nassr forward has now gone 10 consecutive matches without scoring for Portugal in major competitions.
