Turkiye vs Paraguay: Galarza Strikes as Almiron Sees Red in 1-0
Updated 19 June 2026.
Turkiye vs Paraguay at World Cup 2026 finished 1-0 to Paraguay, Matias Galarza striking after two minutes and the South Americans holding on despite Miguel Almiron’s first-half red card. The win keeps Paraguay’s qualification in their own hands and, by denying Turkiye, handed Group D top spot and a Round of 32 place to the United States.
| Match facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Result | Turkiye 0-1 Paraguay |
| Competition | World Cup 2026, Group D |
| Venue | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (att. 68,827) |
| Paraguay scorer | Galarza 2′ |
| Turkiye scorer | None |
| Red card | Almiron 45+3′ (PAR) |
Turkiye vs Paraguay World Cup 2026: how Paraguay won it
Paraguay won with an early goal and a backs-to-the-wall second half. Matias Galarza struck inside two minutes at Levi’s Stadium, and Paraguay then defended that lead through a man down for almost the entire second half after Miguel Almiron was sent off in first-half stoppage time.
Almiron’s dismissal was the night’s talking point. The VAR-reviewed red card came under FIFA’s new law that punishes players for covering their mouths during a confrontation, making the Paraguay midfielder the first player sent off under the rule at a World Cup. Reduced to ten men, Paraguay dug in, and Turkiye, for all their late pressure, could not find the goal their performance arguably deserved.
What it means for Group D
Paraguay’s three points lift them to second in Group D and keep their knockout hopes alive going into the final round. The result also settled the top of the group: by beating Turkiye, Paraguay confirmed the United States, 2-0 winners over Australia earlier, as Group D winners. Turkiye stay bottom and face elimination. See the tables on our group standings tracker and the live standings page.
What is next
Both teams head into a decisive final Group D fixture, with kick-offs on our fixtures page and goals live on live scores. Revisit our pre-match preview, catch the rest of the day in our June 19 preview hub, and see the full schedule in our complete World Cup 2026 guide. Turkiye’s opening defeat is covered in our Australia vs Turkiye report.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in Turkiye vs Paraguay?
Paraguay beat Turkiye 1-0 in their World Cup 2026 Group D match on 19 June at Levi’s Stadium, with Matias Galarza scoring the only goal inside two minutes.
Why was Miguel Almiron sent off?
Almiron was shown a red card in first-half stoppage time, after a VAR review, under FIFA’s new law banning players from covering their mouths during a confrontation, the first such dismissal at a World Cup.
What did the result mean for the group?
Paraguay’s win confirmed the United States as Group D winners and kept Paraguay second, with their own qualification still to be decided in the final round.
Sources: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D and Fox Sports.
