Turkey 0-1 Paraguay: World Cup 2026 – as it happened

Ten-man Paraguay clung on after Matías Galarza’s early strike to secure a famous win and ensure Turkey will go home at the end of the group stage

A surprise start for attacker Isidro Pitta, who was so certain he wouldn’t be called up to Paraguay’s squad for the World Cup that he had already booked a holiday to Spain with his family during the tournament.

Nicknamed ‘Viking’ due to his long hair and big ginger beard, he’s found form at Red Bull Bragantino and is described as “a fighter, a tireless worker and a constant nuisance for opposition defences” in the Guardian’s World Cup player guide.

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