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Turkiye Faces Paraguay in a Crucial World Cup Clash at Levi’s Stadium

Both Turkiye and Paraguay come into their Friday encounter at Levi’s Stadium desperate to secure their maiden victory of the 2026 World Cup. After losses in their opening matches, the stakes are high for both teams.

Turkiye, seen as Group D favorites alongside the U.S. and Australia, stumbled against Australia with a surprising 2-0 defeat. This marked their return to the World Cup after a 24-year absence, but they were unable to deliver on expectations.

Paraguay endured an even harsher setback, losing 4-1 to the U.S. in their first game back on the global stage after 16 years. Coach Gustavo Alfaro described the result as a "very painful lesson."

Neither team has points so far, making this match critical. Another loss could effectively end hopes of reaching the knockout rounds, adding pressure to what will be a tense showdown in California.

Score Prediction: Turkiye Edges Paraguay 2-0

Turkiye looks ready to rebound. Despite their defeat, they dominated possession and fired 30 shots against Australia but failed to convert when it counted. Their scoring run in previous matches suggests they can find the net against Paraguay, who just conceded four goals.

One standout player, Arda Güler, might deliver the decisive moment that opens the match up. Paraguay, while likely to have learned from their earlier mistakes, may lack the individual quality needed to keep pace.

The two nations have met only once before, in a 1995 friendly that ended 0-0, so familiarity is minimal. Turkiye’s record of bouncing back from defeats remains intact since Euro 2024, having won every match following a loss. In contrast, Paraguay's attack struggles with consistency, managing just one goal in four of their last six games.

Turkiye’s Probable Lineup

Kenan Yıldız might start after recovering from a calf injury, potentially replacing Barış Alper Yılmaz to boost the offense. Deniz Gül could also come in for Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who had a quiet performance in the opener.

The expected formation is a 4-2-3-1:

Paraguay’s Expected Lineup

Gustavo Caballero and Ramón Sosa remain doubtful due to injuries. Júnior Alonso struggled last game, likely paving the way for Alexandro Maidana to debut at left back. Mauricio might again come off the bench despite scoring Paraguay’s lone goal previously.

The probable formation is 4-4-2:

Match Details

  • Location: Santa Clara, United States
  • Stadium: Levi’s Stadium
  • Date & Time: Friday, June 19 / Saturday, June 20, 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT / 4 a.m. BST (June 20)
  • Referee: Iván Barton (SLV)

Broadcast Information

The match will be available on various platforms worldwide including:

  • United States: Fox Sports, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One
  • Mexico: ViX Mexico
  • Canada: TSN+, TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, RDS, RDS App
  • United Kingdom: ITV1, STV, ITVX, STV Player

We think Turkiye will use their experience and attacking talent to claim a 2-0 win, keeping their World Cup hopes alive while Paraguay faces another uphill battle.

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