Turkey’s 2026 World Cup hopes have ended after just two matches following a surprising 1-0 defeat to Paraguay. The loss follows a previous setback against Australia, compounding a disappointing start to their qualifying campaign. Despite playing against a Paraguayan team that received a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct – a hand gesture covering the mouth – Turkey failed to capitalize on the numerical advantage. Paraguay scored the decisive goal, securing their victory and simultaneously eliminating Turkey from contention. This early exit represents a significant disappointment for Turkish football fans. The team’s performance has fallen short of expectations, resulting in premature elimination from the World Cup qualifying process.