FIFA WORLD CUP 26™ SF BAY AREA MATCH RECAP: Türkiye 0, Paraguay 1
Türkiye and Paraguay pregame flag ceremonies during the June 19th matchup at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in front of a full houes crowd of 68,827.
United States Set to Play in the Bay Area After Paraguay Knocks Out Türkiye
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (June 19, 2026) — The Bay Area played host to the fastest goal of this year's World Cup on Friday night, as Paraguay's Matías Galarza scored just 65 seconds into the match at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, and Paraguay held on for a 1–0 win over Türkiye despite playing more than half the match a man down. The result eliminated Türkiye from the tournament and clinched first place in Group D for the United States, who will return to the region with a Round of 32 match at Levi's Stadium on July 1.
The result eliminated Türkiye from the tournament with a second straight loss and clinched first place in Group D for the United States, sending the Americans to the Bay Area on July 1 for their Round of 32 knockout match.
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro made a lineup change ahead of kickoff that paid off immediately. Galarza was inserted into the starting eleven after sitting out the opener, and he rewarded the decision by sending a left-footed shot from roughly 25 yards into the net just 1:05 into the game.
Türkiye 0–1 Paraguay (Galarza, 1')
Türkiye dominated possession for a second consecutive match but again struggled to turn that control into goals. The Turks came close in the first half when Mert Müldür's header off a free kick struck the crossbar and the post before bouncing away.
Paraguay was reduced to ten men late in first-half stoppage time, when Miguel Almirón was sent off for covering his mouth during a confrontation with Müldür, violating a new World Cup rule. Referee Iván Barton went to video review and issued the red card, the first of its kind at this tournament.
Paraguay carried its 1–0 lead into the second half despite the man disadvantage, and Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill became the difference-maker down the stretch. Gill made a save on a tricky deflected shot from Türkiye’s Merih Demiral early in the second half, then denied a long-range attempt from Türkiye’s Abdülkerim Bardakcı midway through the half. Late in the half, Gill stopped a close-range effort from Türkiye’s Can Uzun, and the rebound was sent wide.
Türkiye’s last real hope came in stoppage time, when Demiral rose for a header that sailed just wide of the post, closing out the match.
Türkiye 0–1 Paraguay (Full Time)
The loss ends a short stay for Türkiye in its first World Cup appearance since 2002, following an opening 2–0 loss to Australia. Paraguay, in its first World Cup since 2010, advances to face Australia next Thursday with second place in the group on the line.
The United States, having clinched first place in Group D, heads to San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1 for the Round of 32. The next match at in the Bay Area will take place on Monday, June 22, when Jordan meets Algeria.
Türkiye vs. Paraguay
2026 FIFA World Cup | Group D
Friday, June 19, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Attendance: 68,827
Discipline
PAR – Matías Galarza (yellow) — 4'
TUR – Eren Elmalı (yellow) — 71'
PAR – Miguel Almirón (red) — 45'+3'
Scoring Summary
PAR – Matías Galarza 1'
Starting Lineups
Türkiye starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Mert Çakır; Zeki Çelik, Merih Demiral, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu; İsmail Yüksek, Hakan Çalhanoğlu (C); Kenan Yıldız, Arda Güler, Kerem Aktürkoğlu; Yunus Akgün
Paraguay starting lineup (4-4-2): Orlando Gill; Gustavo Gómez (C), Omar Alderete, Alejandro Alonso, Robert Cáceres; Diego Gómez, Mathías Galarza, Ángel Cubas, Miguel Almirón; Julio Enciso, Antonio Pitta