Türkiye vs Paraguay
Paraguay stuns Türkiye with early strike
M. Galarza's second-minute goal seals a narrow win away from home.
Paraguay secured a shock 1-0 victory over Türkiye in the World Cup thanks to an early goal from M. Galarza in the second minute. Despite Fipster's confident prediction of a 2-1 win for Türkiye, the visitors held firm to claim all three points. This result defied expectations and will surely rattle the home side.
Analysis
As the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage continues, Türkiye faces Paraguay in a match where quality and form are set to decide the outcome. Both teams have shown promise, but Türkiye's edge in player calibre and recent performances suggests a narrow home victory.
Türkiye enters this fixture with two prior World Cup appearances and a best finish of third place in 2002. Paraguay, with eight appearances and a quarter-final best in 2010, brings experience but faces a tough challenge. Türkiye qualified directly, finishing second in their group with 13 points, while Paraguay secured their spot with 28 points from CONMEBOL, finishing sixth in their qualifying group. Neither team is hosting the tournament.
Türkiye boasts a strong squad with nine players in top-five European leagues, including key figures like H. Çalhanoğlu of Inter and F. Kadıoğlu of Brighton. Paraguay has four such players, including A. Sanabria of Cremonese and J. Enciso of Strasbourg. Türkiye's recent form is superior, averaging 2.111 points per game compared to Paraguay's 1.333. The midfield dominance of Türkiye, especially through Çalhanoğlu and A. Güler, provides creative control, while Paraguay's attacking threats Maurício and Enciso ensure they remain dangerous.
Prediction
The prediction favours Türkiye to win 2-1, leading 1-0 at halftime. The match is expected to feature around four cards, typical for a group stage encounter. Türkiye's quality and form give them the edge, but Paraguay's resilience should see them score as well.
Outcome probability
Key Insights
Türkiye's midfield passing dominance
Türkiye midfielders like Çalhanoğlu and Güler have passing volumes and accuracy well above league averages, enabling control and chance creation.
Paraguay's key attackers in form
Maurício and Enciso show strong recent attacking contributions, ensuring Paraguay's goal threat despite predicted loss.
Türkiye seeks redemption after loss
Türkiye lost last away match 0-2 but predicted to win at home, indicating motivation and tactical adjustments.
No injuries reported for either team
Both teams have full squads available, so tactical choices and form will be decisive.
Key Takeaways
This encounter promises a competitive match with Türkiye narrowly prevailing. Their superior squad calibre and recent form should see them claim the three points, but Paraguay's attacking talents will keep the contest lively until the final whistle.
- Türkiye has 2 prior World Cup appearances with a best finish of third place (2002).
- Paraguay has 8 prior World Cup appearances with a best finish of quarter-finals (2010).
- Türkiye qualified directly, finishing 2nd in their group with 13 points.
- Paraguay qualified directly, finishing 6th in CONMEBOL with 28 points.
- Türkiye has 9 players in top-5 European leagues; Paraguay has 4.
- Türkiye's recent form yields 2.111 points per game; Paraguay's is 1.333.
- Neither team is a host nation for the 2026 World Cup.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Türkiye
Away — Paraguay
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
FIFA world ranking
Galarza
Assist: Enciso
Galarza
Yellow Card
Almirón
Red Card
Pitta
Aktürkoğlu
Akgün
Yüksek
Yellow Card
Gómez
Kadıoğlu
Elmalı
Yellow Card
Cáceres
Bardakcı
Enciso
Galarza
Match Statistics
Türkiye
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 3M. DemiralD
- 7K. AktürkoğluF
- 8A. GülerM
- 10H. ÇalhanoğluM
- 11K. YıldızM
- 14A. BardakcıD
- 16İ. YüksekM
- 18M. MüldürD
- 19Y. AkgünM
- 20F. KadıoğluD
- 23U. ÇakırG
Substitutes
- 1M. GünokG
- 2Z. ÇelikD
- 4Ç. SöyüncüD
- 5S. ÖzcanM
- 6O. KökçüM
- 9D. GülF
- 12A. BayındırG
- 13E. ElmalıD
- 15O. KabakD
- 17İ. KahveciM
- 21B. YılmazF
- 22K. AyhanD
- 24O. AydınF
- 25S. AkaydinD
- 26C. UzunM
Paraguay
4-4-2Starting XI
- 3O. AldereteD
- 4J. CáceresD
- 6J. AlonsoD
- 8D. GómezM
- 10M. AlmirónM
- 12O. GillG
- 14A. CubasM
- 15G. GómezD
- 19J. EncisoF
- 23M. GalarzaM
- 25I. PittaF
Substitutes
- 1R. FernándezG
- 2G. VelázquezD
- 5F. BalbuenaD
- 7R. SosaF
- 9A. SanabriaF
- 11MaurícioM
- 13J. CanaleD
- 16D. BobadillaM
- 17A. RomeroM
- 18A. ArceF
- 20B. OjedaM
- 21G. ÁvalosF
- 22G. OlveiraG
- 24G. CaballeroF
- 26A. MaidanaD
Türkiye
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdülkerim Bardakcı | D | 86 | 8.0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
| Hakan Çalhanoğlu(C) | M | 95 | 7.5 | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — |
| Arda Güler | M | 95 | 7.2 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — |
| Kenan Yıldız | M | 95 | 7.2 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4/7 |
| İsmail Yüksek | M | 60 | 6.9 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1/2 |
| Ferdi Kadıoğlu | D | 70 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0/1 |
| Kerem Aktürkoğlu | F | 45 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
| Merih Demiral | D | 95 | 6.6 | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | 0/3 |
| Mert Müldür | D | 95 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1/1 |
| Uğurcan Çakır | G | 95 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Yunus Akgün | M | 60 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/3 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Çağlar Söyüncü | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Zeki Çelik | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Salih Özcan | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kaan Ayhan | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ozan Kabak | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mert Günok | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| İrfan Can Kahveci | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Altay Bayındır | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Samet Akaydın | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oğuz Aydın | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Orkun Kökçü | M | 9 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Barış Alper Yılmaz | F | 50 | 6.6 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 3/3 |
| Eren Elmalı | D | 25 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| Can Uzun | M | 35 | 6.3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1/3 |
| Deniz Gül | F | 35 | 6.2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Paraguay
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Cáceres | D | 81 | 8.0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2/3 |
| Matías Galarza | M | 92 | 7.7 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2/6 |
| Julio Enciso | F | 92 | 7.7 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 6/8 |
| Orlando Gill | G | 95 | 7.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Junior Alonso | D | 95 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Gustavo Gómez(C) | D | 95 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Omar Alderete | D | 95 | 6.9 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Andrés Cubas | M | 95 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Diego Gómez | M | 67 | 6.6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/2 |
| Miguel Almirón | M | 48 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | 2/3 |
| Isidro Pitta | F | 45 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| José Canale | D | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Roberto Fernández | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fabián Balbuena | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alejandro Romero | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Antonio Sanabria | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gabriel Ávalos | F | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gastón Olveira | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Braian Ojeda | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alex Arce | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mauricio | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gustavo Caballero | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ramón Sosa | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Damián Bobadilla | M | 50 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gustavo Velázquez | D | 28 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alexandro Maidana | D | 14 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |