Türkiye’s long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup has ended in disappointment after they were officially eliminated from the 2026 tournament following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Group D.
The decisive moment came just over a minute into the match when Paraguay struck early, scoring what proved to be the winning goal. Despite enjoying large spells of possession and creating several opportunities throughout the contest, Türkiye failed to find a way back into the game.
The defeat leaves Vincenzo Montella’s side with two losses from their opening two matches, ending any hopes of reaching the Round of 32. Their campaign began with a setback against Australia before the crucial defeat to Paraguay sealed their fate.
Türkiye’s elimination is a bitter blow for a nation making its first World Cup appearance since 2002. On that memorable occasion, they captured global attention by finishing third and producing one of the greatest runs in the tournament’s history. However, their return to football’s biggest stage has been far less successful, with the Crescent-Stars unable to progress beyond the group phase.
For Paraguay, the victory keeps their knockout-stage ambitions alive. The South Americans now move into a strong position in Group D and will battle Australia in their final group match for a place in the last 32.
Meanwhile, the United States have already secured qualification from the group after back-to-back victories, becoming one of the first nations to book their place in the knockout rounds.
With one match still left to play, Türkiye can only look to end their campaign on a positive note, but their World Cup dream is already over as they become one of the first teams eliminated from the expanded 48-team tournament.
Group D Standings (after two matches):
1. United States – Qualified2. Paraguay – In contention3. Australia – In contention4. Türkiye – Eliminated ❌
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will continue without Türkiye, whose long-awaited return to the global stage has ended in heartbreak.
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