Turkey vs Paraguay - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

Both beaten connected Group D's opening day, Turkey and Paraguay indispensable play catch-up arsenic they proceed their World Cup 2026 run connected Friday. 

Trailing down the USA and Australia, neither broadside tin spend to suffer again, mounting up a high-stakes showdown successful San Francisco.

Match preview

Despite dominating possession, Turkey took 30 shots without scoring successful their 2-0 decision to Australia, casting uncertainty implicit their pre-tournament presumption arsenic unsafe 'dark horses'.

It surely came arsenic thing of a surprise, with Vincenzo Montella's men having won 7 and drawn 1 since being thumped 6-0 by Spain successful UEFA qualifying past September.

The Crescent-Stars antecedently made it done to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, but losing to the Socceroos extended a grim caller grounds connected the large stage: often fancied but seldom capable to deliver, they person present mislaid 9 of their past 13 matches astatine large competitions.

Currently featuring astatine their archetypal World Cup since 2002, erstwhile they famously claimed bronze, an aboriginal exit could beryllium connected the cards if Turkey falter again connected Friday. 

Given they look a final-day crippled against co-hosts USA, the caller favourites to apical Group D, Turkey indispensable combat for maximum points from their archetypal competitory gathering with Paraguay.

While the US impressed, it was a shocking commencement for Paraguay, who recovered themselves 3-0 down astatine fractional clip successful Los Angeles.

Though Gustavo Alfaro's broadside improved aft the break, pulling a extremity backmost erstwhile Julio Enciso fed Palmeiras winger Mauricio to score, they yet crashed to a 4-1 defeat.

Continuing an unwanted tradition, Paraguay person present won conscionable 1 of 9 World Cup openers, leaving them with different upland to ascent successful the remaining radical games.

Before that setback, they had a estimation for keeping things choky - and had conscionable posted 3 wins from 4 - truthful they volition purpose to resume mean work against Turkey.

Alfaro - the 3rd Argentinian manager to negociate La Albirroja astatine a World Cup - was feted for guiding his adopted state done CONMEBOL qualifying, which featured astonishment wins implicit Brazil and Argentina.

However, his squad - who ended Paraguay's 14-year hold to suffice - whitethorn look elimination astatine the radical signifier unless they prime up thing from their travel to San Francisco.

Turkey World Cup form:

L

Turkey signifier (all competitions):

D W W W W L

Paraguay World Cup form:

L

Paraguay signifier (all competitions):

L W W L W L

Team News

Questions stay astir the readiness of Turkey prima Kenan Yildiz, who struggled for fittingness astatine the extremity of past play and was incapable to commencement against Australia owed to a calf problem. 

Having appeared for the 2nd half, helium whitethorn beryllium restricted to different cameo connected Friday, erstwhile Arda Guler, Baris Alper Yilmaz and Orkun Kokcu should diagnostic successful the last third.

Either Kerem Akturkoglu oregon Deniz Gul is expected to commencement up front, portion skipper Hakan Calhanoglu takes attraction of set-piece work successful midfield and full-back Ferdi Kadioglu - who created 5 chances past clip retired - volition patrol the near flank.

Paraguay, meanwhile, person 2 large doubts: Gustavo Caballero missed retired against the USA with a muscular contented and Ramon Sosa has an ankle problem.

Following a ragged show past weekend, Alexandro Maidana could regenerate Junior Alonso astatine left-back, but Sunderland's Omar Alderete and skipper Gustavo Gomez should some beryllium retained successful cardinal defence.

Mauricio volition anticipation to commencement aft scoring arsenic a substitute, adjacent if Alfaro's beforehand 4 is good set: cardinal creator Julio Enciso usually joins Miguel Almiron and Diego Gomez successful enactment of lone striker Tonny Sanabria, who was apical scorer successful qualifying with 4 goals.

Turkey imaginable starting lineup:

Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Guler, Kokcu, Yilmaz; Akturkoglu

Paraguay imaginable starting lineup:

Gill; Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, Maidana; Bobadilla, Cubas; D. Gomez, Enciso, Almiron; Sanabria

We say: Turkey 2-1 Paraguay

Neither broadside lived up to expectations successful the opening circular of Group D games, but some should springiness a amended showing connected time two.

As Turkey person much extremity menace and amended options connected the bench, Paraguay volition beryllium near pointless and occupying past place.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.