Paraguay eliminates Turkey from the World Cup.

Paraguay faced Turkey with ten players for more than a full half and defeated them 1-0, eliminating them from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup in football, on Friday in San Francisco.

After Matías Galarza opened the scoring in the 64th second, recording the fastest goal of the current World Cup, his teammate Miguel Almirón was sent off at the end of the first half for covering his mouth while directing words at a Turkish player, marking the first instance of this type of red card in World Cup history.

This result led to Turkey's elimination from the second round, after losing their opener against Australia 0-2, while the United States secured the top spot in Group D and will play in San Francisco, following victories over Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0.

The first half was exciting, with the Paraguayan team starting in the best possible way, as Julio Enciso's touch set up Galarza, who fired a left-footed shot that shook the net after just 64 seconds, making it the fastest goal in the finals.

Turkey nearly equalized shortly after, but Arda Güler's shot from a cross cut from the right by Aktürkoğlu went over the bar (13).

Mert Müldür was also close to scoring the equalizer, but his header from close range hit the crossbar before bouncing off the post (34).

The Paraguayan team suffered a severe blow in the third minute of stoppage time in the first half, as they finished the match with ten players following a VAR intervention, where Almirón received a red card for covering his mouth while uttering words towards Müldür.

FIFA announced in April that it could now send off players who cover their mouths "in confrontation with the opponent."

Three minutes after the break, Kenan Yıldız came close to scoring, but the Juventus striker only managed to hit the side netting from a tight angle.

Enciso nearly doubled Paraguay's lead after breaking in from the right before shooting a ball that went past the left post, while an unmarked Deniz Türüç headed a direct shot into the hands of goalkeeper Orlando Ghil.

The Italian coach Vincenzo Montella's squad nearly equalized in the 89th minute, but substitute Can Ozan's shot was brilliantly saved by Ghil, and then Güler missed a follow-up chance from close range.

Turkey had one last opportunity in stoppage time to keep their hopes alive, but Merih Demiral, the Al-Ahli Saudi defender, could only direct a header from Güler's cross from the left just inches past the right post (90+7).