FIFA World Cup 2026, Group D, Matchday 2
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California | Friday, June 19, 2026 | 11:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM PT
Watch in Canada: TSN (Bell Media)
Turkey and Paraguay meet with their tournament hopes already under strain. Both opened Group D with losses, so another defeat would leave either side needing a major turnaround on the final matchday to stay alive.
Turkey were blanked 2-0 by Australia in Vancouver, a result that exposed a lack of finishing despite plenty of the ball. Paraguay had an even rougher start, falling 4-1 to the United States in Los Angeles after conceding early and never fully recovering. With the USA and Australia both on three points, the pressure on tonight’s loser is immediate and severe.
A draw keeps both teams technically in the race, but only just. A win is the only result that truly changes the picture.
Turkey Need a Faster, Sharper Response
This is Turkey’s first World Cup since 2002, when they finished third and earned one of the most memorable runs in the nation’s football history. That gap alone has raised expectations, and it has also made the opening loss feel heavier than a normal group-stage setback.
The squad still has quality in the final third. Arda Güler gives Turkey a creative edge between the lines, Kenan Yıldız brings direct running and dribbling, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu remains the main organizer from midfield. On paper, that is enough talent to trouble almost anyone in the group.
The problem in the opener was production. Turkey controlled long stretches against Australia but could not turn possession into goals. That leaves Vincenzo Montella with a clear task: find more urgency in the attacking third and stop the team from becoming too predictable when the game tightens.
Turkey qualified strongly enough to suggest the loss was an outlier, not a full reflection of their level. Still, another passive performance would put them on the edge of elimination before the final whistle tonight.
Paraguay Bring Discipline, But They Also Need Goals
Paraguay are back on the World Cup stage for the first time since 2010, and their route here was built on stubbornness. Gustavo Alfaro’s side survived a demanding South American qualifying campaign and even collected notable home results against major opponents. That resilience is still the backbone of what they do.
The issue is that Paraguay were far too open in their first match. The 4-1 defeat to the United States damaged the idea that they could simply defend first and wait for a moment to decide the game. Once they fell behind, they struggled to regain control.
Andrés Cubas, who plays his club football for the Vancouver Whitecaps, gives Paraguay energy and ball recovery in midfield. Julio Enciso remains their most dangerous attacking outlet, while Miguel Almirón adds movement and experience. At the back, Gustavo Gómez is still the player Alfaro leans on to steady the group.
Even so, Paraguay’s attack has to do more. Their qualifying numbers were modest, and if they fall into a low-scoring pattern again, they may be forced to rely on a result that never arrives.
What Decides the Match
The key battle is simple: can Turkey make possession count before Paraguay settle into a defensive shape?
If Turkey move the ball quickly and use Güler and Yıldız in advanced areas, they can create problems between Paraguay’s midfield and back line. If they recycle the ball too slowly, Paraguay can drop deeper and turn the match into a physical, frustrating contest.
Paraguay’s best route is transition. Cubas and Diego Gómez will need to win second balls and release Enciso early, because that is where Paraguay are most likely to threaten. A first goal for Paraguay would change the feel of the match completely, since Turkey cannot afford to chase from behind again.
Set pieces also matter. Çalhanoğlu’s delivery gives Turkey a real edge, while Paraguay’s center backs are experienced enough to make the box difficult. In a game this tense, one dead-ball moment could decide everything.
Neither side can afford to wait and see. The team that scores first will force the other into a much more difficult plan.
Final Call
Turkey have the cleaner attacking profile and the stronger individual match-winners, while Paraguay arrive with more defensive questions after the first round. That combination points toward a narrow Turkish edge, especially if Montella’s side start with more pace and conviction than they showed against Australia.
Paraguay should make this uncomfortable, and Enciso is good enough to create a moment that keeps them in it. Still, Turkey have more ways to find a decisive goal, and that matters in a match where the stakes are so high.
Prediction: Turkey 2-1 Paraguay
Turkey score first, Paraguay respond to make it tense, and the Crescent-Stars hold on late to keep their World Cup hopes alive heading into the final group game.
Kickoff is 11:00 PM ET on TSN, which is 8:00 PM PT for viewers on the West Coast. Levi’s Stadium should feel like an elimination game from the opening minutes.
