Turkiye and Paraguay met at the 2026 World Cup, with both sides looking to recover after losing their opening games. Those defeats also pushed them down in the FIFA rankings.
Turkiye was stunned by Australia despite creating plenty of chances. However, Australia’s strong defense and a brilliant performance from goalkeeper Patrick Beach kept Turkiye from finding the net.
Paraguay, meanwhile, was outclassed by the United States in their opening match and struggled to keep pace throughout the contest. To secure a crucial three points against Turkiye, they will need to rediscover the defensive solidity that has made them one of CONMEBOL’s toughest teams to break down.
How the Losses Impacted the FIFA Rankings
Turkiye entered the 2026 World Cup ranked 22nd, but after their loss to Australia, FIFA dropped them four places. As a result, Turkiye now sits in 26th in the FIFA rankings. The defeat against Australia also cost them 26.26 ranking points, according to FIFA.
Paraguay’s defeat saw them slip one place in the FIFA World Rankings, dropping to 42nd in the world. The loss also cost La Albirroja 17.30 FIFA ranking points.
Understanding the FIFA World Rankings System
Think of FIFA rankings as a massive game of poker. When teams play, they do not just earn points; the winner directly steals them from the loser. The size of the prize depends on the match importance, opponent strength, and if an upset occurred.
That is why Turkiye lost more points than Paraguay, even though the South American side suffered a bigger defeat in terms of goals. The ranking formula is not based on one simple factor; it takes several variables into account.
Has Turkiye Been Eliminated from the 2026 World Cup?
Turkiye’s World Cup dream is over following a 1–0 loss to Paraguay. There was so much hype around this team before the tournament started, and we all thought this incredibly talented group was going to make a deep run. Instead, the tournament ended in massive heartbreak.
With this result, Turkiye’s World Cup campaign is officially over. The United States had already secured top spot in Group D with a 2–0 victory over Australia, moving to six points from two matches. As a result, Turkiye’s 1–0 defeat to Paraguay — despite the South Americans playing much of the game without Miguel Almirón after a first-half red card — leaves them stuck with zero points after two games, making it impossible for them to reach the knockout stage.
Even if Turkiye manages to beat the United States in their final Group D match, they would finish with only three points. That still would not be enough to overtake the USA, who have already secured top spot in the group. Moreover, even if Turkiye ends level on points with either Australia or Paraguay, they would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning their hopes of reaching the knockout stage are already over.
Short Summary
Both Turkiye and Paraguay went into their second 2026 World Cup match desperate for a win after losing their opening games—defeats that also knocked both teams down in the FIFA rankings.
Unfortunately for a highly hyped Turkish squad, their tournament run ended in heartbreak. They lost 1–0 against Paraguay despite the South Americans playing with ten men after Miguel Almirón saw red in the first half.
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Turkiye is officially eliminated as the USA has already clinched the top spot in Group D, and Turkiye loses the head-to-head tiebreakers against both Australia and Paraguay. Even if they manage an upset against the US in their final group game, it won’t be enough to reach the knockout stages.
Yashpal Singh brings readers closer to the action with coverage of sports news, game updates, athlete stories, team developments, and major moments from the field. From local matchups to broader sports headlines, his reporting focuses on the stories fans care about most.