Turkey’s World Cup hopes collapsed after they lost to 10-man Paraguay and were eliminated under a FIFA rule change that shifts tie-breaks from goal difference to head-to-head records. Arda Güler admitted the squad was “ashamed,” while coach Vincenzo Montella a
Turkey’s World Cup exit didn’t arrive with drama—it arrived with disbelief.
On 20 June 2026, the nation watched a match that felt like it should have offered momentum, not an instant ending. Turkey had a late tournament future in front of them on paper. with a final game against the USA still to come. But the rules had moved underneath them. and a new tie-break system left them exposed once results elsewhere began to stack against them.
In their latest blow, Turkey were dumped out after a surprise loss to 10-man Paraguay. Paraguay took the lead in the first minute through Matias Galarza. and then spent the rest of the match defending for their lives after Miguel Almiron was sent off for speaking behind his hand under a new rule. The former Newcastle winger concealed his words, and the referee was alerted just before half-time. From there, Turkey pressed—but not effectively enough to change the outcome.
The scoreboard wasn’t the only problem. Turkey finished bottom with no margin left to recover. because the new FIFA tie-breaker no longer treats goal difference as the deciding factor when teams are level on points. Head-to-head record is used instead. Turkey’s results—losses to both Australia and Paraguay—meant they were guaranteed to finish at the bottom.
The contrast between effort and finish was painful. Across their defeats by Australia and Paraguay, Turkey produced 62 shots without scoring a goal. They created numerous openings. but too many of them went begging. and the images from full-time told their own story: players were left disconsolate. with Mert Muldur pictured dejected and in tears after the elimination.
Real Madrid star Arda Güler tried to capture the mood in his own blunt terms. “We are very sad, we are ashamed. We apologize to all our people.” He added: “We tried very hard but it didn’t work. But we should have scored some goals.”
Then, as the reality sank in, he put it in collective terms. “We should have won these games… Everybody’s sad, everybody’s crying.”
Montella, speaking after the match, also placed responsibility on the team—while insisting their commitment never wavered. “I’m sad, but also very proud of my players,” he said. “They gave their all until the final whistle. Football is like that sometimes.”
He offered a nation-wide apology that went beyond the pitch. “I am very, very sorry. There were high expectations on behalf of our nation. Our expectations were also high. I am also very sorry on behalf of the TFF [Turkish Football Federation]; I know how they worked. I know how the footballers worked.”.
Montella pointed to the odd rhythm of their tournament so far, stressing how rarely this kind of collapse happens. “I have been in football for 35 years; normally it happens once in 50 years. but it happened to us in two matches. ” he said. “There are [62] shots in two matches!. Not to mention ball possession. Fate was not on our side.”.
Still, he asked the players to carry themselves with dignity. “I told our footballers to hold their heads up. As they sometimes say, there is nothing beyond destiny.”
He ended with a pledge that was as much promise as consolation. “My support for them will be unconditional. No one held back; everyone worked and fought hard. It didn’t work, unfortunately.”
Turkey Paraguay Miguel Almiron Arda Güler Vincenzo Montella FIFA rule change World Cup 2026 head-to-head tiebreaker Matias Galarza Mert Muldur