Ay-Yıldızlılar · Group D
Turkey return to the World Cup for the first time since their memorable third-place finish in 2002. Coached by Vincenzo Montella, they feature an exciting young core alongside captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu. The Crescent-Stars are an emerging force in European football.
Key squad members (selected). Full match-day squads update from the live feed.
Paraguay clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Turkey in Group D, booking their place in the next round and eliminating Turkey from the World Cup. An early goal proved decisive, and Paraguay's resilience under pressure—despite going down to ten men—underscored their campaign’s grit.
A resilient Paraguay side overcame adversity to secure a crucial victory over Turkey, a result that ends Turkey’s 2026 World Cup campaign in the group stage. Despite pressure and the high stakes, Gustavo Alfaro’s squad held strong to move forward.
Turkey's World Cup journey has come to a premature end following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Paraguay, marking a second straight loss in the group. With no points from their opening fixtures and qualification now mathematically impossible, Vincenzo Montella's team faces an early exit, while Paraguay and the rest of Group D march on.
Turkey has been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 following a 2-0 defeat to Australia in Group D. The result leaves Turkey without a point after two group stage matches, confirming their exit before the final round. Australia, meanwhile, keeps their qualification hopes alive with two wins from two.
Turkey and Paraguay enter their second Group D match with pressure mounting after contrasting opening results. With Australia and United States enjoying strong starts, this clash could prove decisive for hopes of progression. We break down the stakes, strengths, and key questions ahead of kickoff.