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France 24
France 24
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FRANCE 24

World Cup 2026: Turkey crash out after defeat to ten-man Paraguay

Paraguay's Gabriel Avalos and teammates celebrate after the match as Turkey's Can Uzun looks dejected, June 19, 2026.
Paraguay's Gabriel Avalos and teammates celebrate after the match as Turkey's Can Uzun looks dejected, June 19, 2026. © Carlos Barria, Reuters

Paraguay secured a 1-0 victory over Turkey despite being reduced to 10 men on Friday, a result that guaranteed the United States first place in Group D and eliminated Turkey from World Cup contention.

Ten-man ​Paraguay eliminated Turkey with a courageous ​defensive effort to seal a dramatic 1-0 win on Friday after suffering a ​dismissal ‌before halftime, with the ⁠fastest goal of the World Cup proving ‌the difference.

Midfielder Matias Galarza wound up ⁠from 25 metres and fired a low rocket home after 64 ​seconds to eclipse Ismael Saibari's ‌71-second strike in Morocco's 1-0 win over Scotland conjured hours before.

Paraguay midfielder ‌Miguel Almiron was given a straight red card ​in first-half stoppage time for putting his hand over his mouth in a ​confrontation with Turkey's Mert Muldur, ​the first to fall ​foul of the new rule at the tournament.

It ​made Paraguay's task that much harder but they weathered wave after wave of Turkey attacks to claim the win ⁠in a remarkable turnaround following their opening ⁠4-1 ​demolition by the United States.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

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