World Cup 2026 lineup, stats and preview, TV channel, live streaming online and prediction

Turkey and Paraguay will be looking to bounce back from their Group D opener defeat when they meet on Friday.

Euro 2024 quarter-finalists, Turkey have been given the ‘dark horse’ tag by many for their first World Cup finals appearance since reaching the last four in 2002.

However, the expectations of Vincenzo Montella’s team will have decreased following their 2-0 defeat by Australia.

Turkey had 28 shots on goal for Australia without reward in a game where they scored 63%.

They will hope for luck against Paraguay if they can dominate in this way at the home of the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.

Paraguay were beaten by their counterparts in the United States in their first game in Los Angeles, losing 4-1 for the first time at this stage since they reached the quarter-finals in 2010.

That result is in contrast to the form Paraguay have shown in reaching the tournament, as they beat Argentina and Brazil to exit the CONMEBOL qualifiers.

But Paraguay star Julio Enciso sent a defiant message after that defeat, making it clear that Turkey will not face a team ready to roll.

“It’s time to continue working,” he told reporters. “I think that we Paraguayans can be seen by standing up, continuing to stand up, never giving up and that’s what we will do to make all our people happy.”

World Cup 2026: Turkey vs Paraguay team news

There are still doubts over Kenan Yildiz’s availability after he missed the first defeat against Australia.

Gustavo Caballero (hamstring) and Ramon Sosa (ankle) will miss Paraguay.

Turkey v Paraguay World Cup 2026 Predictions Qualifiers

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

Paraguay: Gill; Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderrete, Maidana; in Bobadilla, Cubas; D. Gomez, Enciso, Almiron; Sanabria

Where to watch Turkey v Paraguay: TV channel, live streaming online

Kick-off on Saturday will be at 04:00 BST (23:00 ET Friday / 20:00 PT Friday). In the UK, broadcast live on ITV1.

Fans can stream the action via the ITV website and the ITVX app, available on a range of devices for viewing on the go.

World Cup 2026: Turkey v Paraguay stats

• This is the first World Cup meeting between these teams, who played in a 0-0 draw in Chile in June 1995.
• Turkiye have lost nine of their last 13 matches in major tournaments (W4), although they have never lost consecutive matches in a single World Cup.
• They last lost consecutive games in March 2024 – in friendlies against Hungary and Austria – and last lost more than one competitive game in a row in June 2021, losing all three group games at EURO 2020.
• The Crescent-Stars’ defeat on the opening day of the match ended their eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W7 D1) and was their first defeat since a 6-0 defeat at home to Spain in September 2025.
• Vincenzo Montella is the second coach to lead Turkey to the finals of the EURO and this tournament, after Senol Gunes, who led them to third place in the 2002 World Cup.
• Paraguay have won two of their last 14 World Cup games against European opposition (D5 L7), although both were on the road: 3-1 against Slovenia in 2002 and 2-0 against Slovakia in 2010.
• They could lose their first two World Cup matches for the second time, having done so previously in 2006 when they lost to England and Sweden and were eliminated from the group stage.
• Against the USA, Paraguay conceded as many goals in the first half as they did in their previous 16 World Cup matches.
• Los Guaranies have not conceded more than a double in any of their 18 qualifying games
• Julio Enciso and Mauricio could become the first player to score or assist in both of Paraguay’s World Cup openers since Romerito in 1986 (2 goals)

World Cup 2026: Turkey vs Paraguay Prediction

Turkey will be the favorites but, with both sides desperate to avoid defeat, there is a good chance they will draw against each other.

Prediction: Turkey 1-1 Paraguay