Turkey vs Paraguay Prediction: World Cup 2026 Preview & Best Bets
Turkey vs Paraguay | Group D, Matchday 9 | 19 June 2026 | Kick-off: 20:00 local (03:00 BST, 20 June)
Venue: Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara), USA
TV/Streaming: ITV / ITVX (UK)
Group D standings after Matchday 1:
- United States: P1 W1 D0 L0 GD +3 — 3 pts
- Australia: P1 W1 D0 L0 GD +2 — 3 pts
- Turkey: P1 W0 D0 L1 GD -2 — 0 pts
- Paraguay: P1 W0 D0 L1 GD -3 — 0 pts
What’s at Stake
With both Turkey and Paraguay already on zero points after heavy Matchday 1 defeats, this fixture is effectively a must-win. A loss here, combined with a result elsewhere, would almost certainly eliminate the loser before Matchday 3. Three points will keep the winner in contention for a top-two finish; a draw leaves both sides needing a favourable final-round result and a swing in goal difference.
Verdict
Turkey enter this contest as the value pick at 1/1, carrying a more settled European squad and greater depth in attacking midfield. With both sides desperate for points and Turkey’s forward line capable of real quality, a narrow Turkey win looks the most likely outcome in a tight, tense group decider.
Turkey vs Paraguay Match Preview
Turkey’s return to the World Cup finals ends a 24-year absence since their famous third-place finish at the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan. Under head coach Vincenzo Montella, they qualified automatically through UEFA and arrive at Levi’s Stadium with a squad that blends domestic Galatasaray and Fenerbahce talent with genuine European pedigree, including Hakan Calhanoğlu of Inter Milan, Arda Guler of Real Madrid, and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus. Their Matchday 1 loss to Australia, however, was a sobering reality check.
Paraguay return to the World Cup for the first time since their quarter-final run at South Africa 2010, ending a 16-year absence. Coach Gustavo Alfaro has spoken candidly about how significant qualifying for this ninth tournament appearance was for Paraguayan football. They were beaten 4-1 by the United States in Matchday 1, a margin that flatters neither their defensive structure nor their attacking threat on the day.
The game is likely to be decided in midfield, where Turkey’s creativity through Calhanoğlu and the young attacking players sits against Paraguay’s compact defensive shape. Both managers will demand a reaction from their players, and the intensity of a genuine knockout game in all but name should produce an open, high-stakes contest.
Team Form
Turkey — last five results:
- Australia (A): Lost 0-2 — FIFA World Cup
- Venezuela (N): Won 2-1 — Friendly
- North Macedonia (H): Won 4-0 — Friendly
- Kosovo (A): Won 1-0 — World Cup Qualifying
- Romania (H): Won 1-0 — World Cup Qualifying
Turkey’s pre-tournament form was encouraging, including a 4-0 win over North Macedonia and a 2-1 friendly success against Venezuela, but the Australia loss exposed defensive frailties at the highest level. Their qualifying campaign was nonetheless robust: six wins and one draw from eight matches, with a 6-1 demolition of Bulgaria among the standout results.
Paraguay — last five results:
- United States (A): Lost 1-4 — FIFA World Cup
- Nicaragua (H): Won 4-0 — Friendly
- Morocco (N): Lost 1-2 — Friendly
- Greece (A): Won 1-0 — Friendly
- Mexico (N): Won 2-1 — Friendly
Paraguay’s 4-0 friendly thrashing of Nicaragua before the tournament looked good on paper, but their competitive results tell a more honest story. The 4-1 Matchday 1 loss to the United States, and a 2-1 friendly defeat against Morocco, suggest a side that can absorb pressure in patches but struggles to contain quality opposition for a full 90 minutes.
Turkey vs Paraguay Head to Head
There is no recorded competitive head-to-head history between Turkey and Paraguay, and these two nations have not previously met at a World Cup. This Matchday 2 clash at Levi’s Stadium will be a rare encounter between sides with minimal historical context against one another, which makes form, squad quality, and tactical approach the primary indicators rather than any previous pattern of results.
Team News
Turkey’s attacking options are one of the squad’s genuine strengths. Kerem Akturkoglu is the side’s most prolific recent scorer, while Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz provide creative quality in the final third. Hakan Calhanoğlu anchors the midfield as captain with 105 caps to his name, giving Montella a reliable engine room general. What has not been publicly confirmed is whether Turkey will make changes to their defensive shape following the 0-2 defeat to Australia.
Paraguay’s key attacking threat is Julio Enciso of Strasbourg, their standout creative player in the final third, while Antonio Sanabria leads the line. Miguel Almiron brings experience with 76 caps and 10 international goals, and his engine in midfield will be important if Paraguay are to press and create space against Turkey’s backline. Mauricio opened the scoring against the United States before Paraguay were overwhelmed, and Alfaro may look to his midfield runners to carry more of the attacking burden.
Both squads were announced ahead of the tournament and there are no confirmed suspensions or significant absences reported for this fixture. Lineup decisions remain with the respective managers and have not been publicly detailed at the time of writing.
Predicted Lineups
Turkey (4-2-3-1): Ugurcan Cakir; Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Ozan Kabak, Ferdi Kadioglu; Hakan Calhanoğlu (c), Salih Ozcan; Arda Guler, Orkun Kokcu, Kenan Yildiz; Kerem Akturkoglu
Paraguay (4-4-2): Gatito Fernandez; Juan Jose Caceres, Gustavo Gomez (c), Fabian Balbuena, Junior Alonso; Ramon Sosa, Andres Cubas, Miguel Almiron, Diego Gomez; Julio Enciso, Antonio Sanabria
Predicted lineups — squads to be confirmed by coaching staff before kick-off.
Key Tactical Matchup
The central contest that shapes this game is Hakan Calhanoğlu’s ability to dictate tempo against Paraguay’s midfield block. With 105 caps and 22 international goals, Calhanoğlu is Turkey’s most influential player and their primary set-piece threat from deep, having converted three penalties among his recent goals. If Alfaro deploys Andres Cubas and Diego Gomez as a disciplined two to screen Paraguay’s back four, Turkey’s creative players in Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz will need to find pockets of space wide and in the half-channels. Should Paraguay press high and leave gaps behind, Turkey’s pace through Kerem Akturkoglu becomes their most dangerous weapon.
Best Bets
The Turkey vs Paraguay best bets for this Matchday 2 encounter focus on the match result, the goals market, and a player to score.
- Turkey to win @ 1/1: Turkey carry the better squad quality and a stronger recent qualifying record, going 6W 1D 1L across eight games including a 6-1 win over Bulgaria and a 4-1 home win over Georgia. Their attacking depth through Guler, Yildiz, and Akturkoglu gives them the edge in a match where both sides cannot afford to lose.
- Over 2.5 goals @ 6/5: Neither side showed defensive solidity in Matchday 1. Turkey conceded twice to Australia without reply, while Paraguay shipped four against the United States. With both teams needing a win, open, end-to-end football is the more likely scenario, and the over line looks well-placed.
- Kerem Akturkoglu to score anytime: Akturkoglu is Turkey’s most productive attacking player in recent form and the side’s primary wide threat. Paraguay’s full-backs were exposed repeatedly against the United States and Akturkoglu’s pace and movement should create chances from wide areas throughout this match.
Odds Across Operators
The best available prices for this Turkey vs Paraguay betting odds overview are listed below, based on the leading operators’ match markets ahead of kick-off.
| Outcome | Best Price |
|---|---|
| Turkey win | 1/1 |
| Draw | 5/2 |
| Paraguay win | 10/3 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 6/5 |
| Under 2.5 goals | 5/6 |
Prices are the best available across leading operators and are subject to change ahead of kick-off on 19 June 2026.
How to Watch and How to Bet
How to Watch
Turkey vs Paraguay will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on ITV and via the free streaming service ITVX. Kick-off is at 20:00 local time in Santa Clara, which corresponds to 03:00 BST on 20 June 2026. Viewers in Ireland can watch on RTE or Virgin Media, while the match is available globally across a range of broadcasters including Globo and SporTV in Brazil, ARD/ZDF in Germany, and Fox and Telemundo in the United States.
How to Bet
Check the best available prices with leading operators before placing any wager on this Group D fixture.
- Compare the Turkey vs Paraguay odds across multiple operators to find the best available price.
- Check the match result market: Turkey are available at 1/1, the draw at 5/2, Paraguay at 10/3.
- Review the goals market: Over 2.5 is priced at 6/5, Under 2.5 at 5/6.
- Look at the anytime scorer market for Kerem Akturkoglu and Julio Enciso as value options.
- Consider a Turkey vs Paraguay accumulator with other World Cup 2026 Matchday 2 fixtures for a combined return.
- Explore the Turkey vs Paraguay bet builder markets for combined selections such as result and total goals.
- Set a clear stake limit before placing any bet and do not exceed it.
- Ensure you have verified your account and accepted any relevant terms with your chosen operator before kick-off.
Responsible Gambling
Betting should always be approached as entertainment, not as a means to generate income. Set a budget before you start and stick to it, regardless of whether you are winning or losing.
If you feel that gambling is affecting your finances, mental health, or relationships, free and confidential help is available. BeGambleAware offers support and resources for anyone concerned about their gambling habits. GamCare provides a free national helpline and live chat service available around the clock.
You can also set deposit limits, cooling-off periods, or self-exclusion options directly through your operator’s responsible gambling tools. Use them.
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