Turkey exit World Cup 2026 as Paraguay edge win despite Almiron red card

Matias Galarza scored the fastest goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026, after just 64 seconds, to re-ignite Paraguay’s campaign and eliminate Türkiye.

Paraguay Goal: Matias Galarza (2)

With both nations coming off first-up defeats, a response was needed in this San Francisco showdown and it took Paraguay just 64 seconds to find one. Andres Cubas pinched possession and passed to Julio Enciso, who then released Matias Galarza to unleash a left-footed effort through the legs of Merih Demiral and past a diving Ugurcan Cakir.

Mert Muldur smacked a header off bar and post as Türkiye pushed forward in search of a leveller before tensions boiled over in additional time. That saw Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron become the first player sent off at the tournament under new laws that prohibit players from covering their mouth during a confrontational situation.

With Gustavo Alfaro’s side a goal up but a man down, the second half dynamic was very much Türkiye attack against Paraguay defence. Wave after wave of Turkish forays came and went; Hakan Calhanoglu sending a volley wide, Deniz Gul likewise with a close-range header and even the usually reliable radar of Kenan Yildiz was off.

The win re-ignites Paraguay’s campaign ahead of a group-closing showdown with Australia on 25 June, while Türkiye are now eliminated.