Paraguay beats Turkey, punches USA's ticket to Bay Area knockout round

SANTA CLARA – The United States' red-hot national team is headed to the Bay Area for its first knockout stage match.

After beating Australia in Seattle on Friday afternoon, the Americans simply needed Paraguay to draw with Turkey at Levi's Stadium on Friday night to secure a spot in Santa Clara on July 1 as a group winner.

Paraguay came through with a 1-0 victory. The U.S. thus clinched Group D with two victories, including a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay in the opener last Friday.

The Americans play their final group stage match Thursday against Turkey in Inglewood.

No matter what happens, the U.S. is coming to Santa Clara.

It took just over one minute for Paraguay to take the lead against Turkey. Matias Galarza took a pass from Julio Enciso and fired a low ball across the grass from just outside the box, rocketing the left-footed shot past the keeper.

Hundreds of Turkish fans sitting right behind the goal sat in stunned silence, holding their lit cigarettes in disbelief as their team's chances of making it out of the group stage was well on their way of going up in smoke.

“When I saw the ball go in, I started running,” Galarza said. “I didn’t know what to do.”

Just as Paraguay had lost its first game of the group stage, Turkey had also fallen 2-0 to Australia despite dominating possession. A similar script unfolded on Friday night in the South Bay.

After going up in the first minute, Paraguay then spent the next 90-plus minutes holding on for dear life.

With such an early lead, the South Americans decided to play a dangerous game with the talented Turkish.

They sat in a low block, a solid 4-4-2 with little space between the lines. It gave precious little space for Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz to operate out of, but also constricted Paraguay's attack as well.

Instead of committing bodies forward in search of a second goal, Paraguay allowed the opponent to enjoy 78% possession. But possession did not translate into a multitude of shot attempts early, with Turkey registering only one shot on target the entire half.

Their No. 10, Hakan Çalhanoglu, created the squad's best chance of the half with a nice ball into the box in the 34th minute, but defender Mert Müldür's header somehow ricocheted off both the top and side posts in rapid succession.

Paraguay's defensive mindset was only solidified three minutes into stoppage time when their captain was sent off with a red card.

Miguel Almiron was seen saying something to Mert Müldür while covering his mouth, and per FIFA's new regulations, that necessitated an automatic red card.

A number of Paraguayan supporters responded by whistling with vitriol while several others hurled profanities at the officials.

The rule was, in part, put in place after Brazil star Vinicius Junior alleged that defender Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth and directed anti-LGBTQ statements toward the forward.

“It hurts when it happens so early on,” Enciso said. “In the end, we felt like we were playing against everyone, truly.”

In the 58th minute, Turkey drew goalkeeper Orlando Gil out of the box. But after a scramble for the ball, Gil emerged with it clutched in his arms and another Turkey attack stifled.

After getting up 28 shots against Australia and 32 against Paraguay, Turkey’s coach was mystified by the results.

“I don't think I've seen two consecutive matches like that in my football career,” Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said. “Fate was not on our side.”

Turkey sent wave after wave of attacker upon a besieged Paraguayan defense, but Juan Jose Cáceres did not bend under immense pressure despite facing 32 shots. Turkey’s stars were left in tears after the loss, while Paraguay’s supporters turned the stands into bedlam.

“I'm really very sorry. It is embarrassing and apologize to the Turkish people,” a distraught Guler said through an interpreter. “Everybody is sad and everybody is crying.”

Paraguay will finish its group stage play against Australia at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday, but preparing for the match was the last thing on the Paraguayans’ minds after the game.

“I will never forget this night for the rest of my life,” Galarza said.

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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 10:21 PM.