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Paraguay save World Cup skins with win over eliminated Turkiye

Turkiye's defeat means they become the second team after Haiti to be eliminated from contention

By AFP
June 20, 2026
Paraguays Gabriel Avalos and teammates celebrate after the match as Turkiyes Can Uzun looks dejected during their Fifa World Cup 2026 Group D match, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California, US, June 19, 2026. — Reuters
Paraguay's Gabriel Avalos and teammates celebrate after the match as Turkiye's Can Uzun looks dejected during their Fifa World Cup 2026 Group D match, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California, US, June 19, 2026. — Reuters

Ten-man Paraguay beat Turkiye 1-0 at the World Cup on Friday, a result that kept their hopes alive and also guaranteed that co-hosts the USA win Group D.

Turkiye's defeat means they become the second team after Haiti to be eliminated from contention.

Matias Galarza scored the only goal in a game that featured the first sending off in World Cup history for a player covering their mouth during an on-field confrontation, for Miguel Almiron.

Galarza's low, long-range shot evaded Turkiye goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir after just 63 seconds.

Former Newcastle forward Almiron was given his marching orders in first-half stoppage time after covering his mouth while he appeared to direct a comment at Turkiye's Mert Muldur.

In a scrappy match, Deniz Gul had a golden chance to equalise in the 88th minute when Paraguay 'keeper Orlando Gill could only parry a shot, but he stabbed his shot wide of the goal.

Merih Demiral glanced a header wide in the dying seconds and was almost in tears afterwards as the Turkiye players slumped to the turf in bitter disappointment.