Turkey and Paraguay lock horns in a high-stakes Group D showdown at San Francisco on Friday, with both nations desperate to bounce back from disappointing starts to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns.
After opening-day defeats left them trailing group leaders USA and Australia, neither side can afford another setback if they are to remain firmly in contention for a place in the knockout rounds.
Turkey entered the tournament carrying the tag of potential dark horses following an impressive run of form. Vincenzo Montella’s side had won seven and drawn one of their previous eight matches, building momentum after their heavy UEFA qualifying defeat to Spain last year.
However, the Crescent-Stars were left stunned in their opener against Australia. Despite dominating possession and firing 30 shots at goal, Turkey failed to find the net and ultimately fell to a frustrating 2-0 defeat.
The result extended a worrying trend for the Turks on the major tournament stage. Despite often arriving with high expectations, they have now lost nine of their last 13 matches at major international competitions.
Competing in their first World Cup since their memorable third-place finish in 2002, Turkey know another defeat could leave them facing an early exit before a daunting final group match against co-hosts USA.
Paraguay’s opening game proved equally disappointing. Gustavo Alfaro’s side were overwhelmed in the first half against the United States, finding themselves 3-0 down by the interval in Los Angeles.
Although they improved significantly after the break and pulled a goal back through Mauricio after excellent work from Julio Enciso, the South Americans ultimately suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat.
The loss continued Paraguay’s poor record in World Cup openers, with La Albirroja now winning just one of their nine opening matches at the tournament.
Before that setback, Paraguay had built a reputation as one of South America’s most organised and disciplined sides. Alfaro guided them through a successful qualifying campaign that included notable victories over Brazil and Argentina, ending a 14-year absence from the World Cup.
Now, with qualification hopes already under pressure, Paraguay must rediscover that resilience against a Turkish side equally desperate for points.
Friday’s encounter marks the first-ever competitive meeting between the two nations, adding another layer of intrigue to a match that could have significant consequences for the Group D standings.
Team News
Turkey remain uncertain over the fitness of Juventus star Kenan Yildiz, who continues to recover from a calf injury that prevented him from starting against Australia. The talented forward made a second-half appearance in the opener and could again be limited to a substitute role.
Arda Guler, Baris Alper Yilmaz and Orkun Kokcu are expected to provide creativity in attack, while either Kerem Akturkoglu or Deniz Gul should lead the line.
Captain Hakan Calhanoglu will once again orchestrate proceedings from midfield, with Ferdi Kadioglu likely to continue at left-back after creating five chances in the opening match.
Paraguay have injury concerns of their own, with Gustavo Caballero struggling with a muscular problem and Ramon Sosa battling an ankle issue. Head coach Gustavo Alfaro could make defensive adjustments following the defeat to the USA, with Alexandro Maidana pushing for a starting role at left-back.
However, experienced central defenders Omar Alderete and captain Gustavo Gomez are expected to retain their places.
Goalscorer Mauricio is pressing for a start after his impact off the bench, although Alfaro may stick with his preferred attacking quartet of Julio Enciso, Miguel Almiron, Diego Gomez and striker Tonny Sanabria.
Possible Lineups
Turkey possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Guler, Kokcu, Yilmaz; Akturkoglu
Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Gill; Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, Maidana; Bobadilla, Cubas; D. Gomez, Enciso, Almiron; Sanabria
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 04:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootall predicts Turkey 2-1 Paraguay.
Both teams suffered disappointing defeats in their opening fixtures, but Turkey’s performance against Australia suggested they were unfortunate not to score. The sheer volume of chances created should give Montella confidence that his side can respond positively.
Paraguay possess quality in attack and are unlikely to collapse as they did against the USA, but Turkey’s greater attacking threat could prove decisive in what is expected to be a tightly contested encounter.
