Turkey Crash Out of FIFA World Cup

Ten-man Paraguay secured a 1-0 victory over Turkey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, keeping their qualification hopes alive while confirming co-hosts the USA as winners of Group D.

The defeat made Turkey the second team, after Haiti, to be eliminated from the tournament.

Matias Galarza netted the decisive goal in a match that also saw a historic first World Cup dismissal, with Paraguay's Miguel Almiron sent off for covering his mouth while appearing to make a comment during an on-field altercation.

Galarza struck after just 63 seconds, his low effort from distance slipping past Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. Almiron, formerly of Newcastle United, was shown a red card in first-half stoppage time following an exchange with Turkey defender Mert Muldur.

Turkey pushed for an equaliser in a scrappy contest and came closest in the 88th minute when Deniz Gul fired wide after Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill could only parry an initial effort.

Merih Demiral then headed narrowly off target in the closing moments, and the Turkish defender was left visibly emotional at full-time as Turkey's players collapsed to the ground in despair following their World Cup exit.