A Crossroads in Santa Clara: Silk and Steel Clash in Group D
Line-ups 🇹🇷 TUR 4-2-3-1 🇵🇾 PAR 4-4-2
Coach: Vincenzo Montella
Starting XI
- 23 Uğurcan Çakır G
- 18 Mert Müldür D
- 3 Merih Demiral D
- 14 Abdülkerim Bardakcı D
- 20 Ferdi Kadıoğlu D
- 16 İsmail Yüksek M
- 10 Hakan Çalhanoğlu M
- 19 Yunus Akgün M
- 8 Arda Güler M
- 11 Kenan Yıldız M
- 7 Kerem Aktürkoğlu F
Substitutes
- 21 Barış Alper Yılmaz F
- 26 Can Uzun M
- 9 Deniz Gül F
- 12 Altay Bayındır G
- 1 Mert Günok G
- 13 Eren Elmalı D
- 22 Kaan Ayhan D
- 15 Ozan Kabak D
- 25 Samet Akaydin D
- 2 Zeki Çelik D
- 4 Çağlar Söyüncü D
- 6 Orkun Kökçü M
- 24 Oğuz Aydın F
- 5 Salih Özcan M
- 17 İrfan Can Kahveci M
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Starting XI
- 12 Orlando Gill G
- 4 Juan José Cáceres D
- 15 Gustavo Gómez D
- 3 Omar Alderete D
- 6 Júnior Alonso D
- 10 Miguel Almirón M
- 14 Andrés Cubas M
- 8 Diego Gómez M
- 23 Matías Galarza M
- 25 Isidro Pitta F
- 19 Julio Enciso F
Substitutes
- 16 Damián Bobadilla M
- 22 Gastón Olveira G
- 1 Gatito Fernández G
- 2 Gustavo Velázquez D
- 5 Fabián Balbuena D
- 13 José Canale D
- 26 Alexandro Maidana D
- 11 Maurício M
- 20 Braian Ojeda M
- 24 Gustavo Caballero F
- 17 Kaku M
- 7 Ramón Sosa F
- 9 Antonio Sanabria F
- 18 Álex Arce F
- 21 Gabriel Ávalos F
With both sides entering Matchday 2 on the back of opening defeats, the atmosphere at Levi's Stadium will be one of calculated desperation. Turkey, under Vincenzo Montella, seeks to translate their aesthetic possession into clinical results. The Crescent-Stars possess a surplus of technical talent in Arda Güler and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, but they must find a way to penetrate a disciplined South American block that thrives on frustrating expansive opponents.
For Paraguay, this fixture represents a critical moment in their return to the global stage after a sixteen-year hiatus. Gustavo Alfaro has instilled a signature defensive resilience, relying on the veteran leadership of Gustavo Gómez to anchor the backline. While La Albirroja are comfortable ceding territory, the pace of Julio Enciso and Miguel Almirón on the counter-attack remains their most potent weapon, specifically designed to exploit the gaps left by Turkey's aggressive wing-backs.
Head to head
Turkey and Paraguay share a limited competitive history, having rarely met on the international stage outside of rare friendly encounters. Their World Cup pedigrees, however, reflect a shared status as historic giant-killers. Turkey's bronze-medal finish in 2002 remains the high-water mark for the nation, while Paraguay famously reached the quarter-finals in 2010, nearly upsetting eventual champions Spain. This match serves as a rare litmus test between UEFA's technical flair and CONMEBOL's defensive grit.
Players to watch
The teenage playmaker is the creative heartbeat of the side, capable of unlocking deep blocks with visionary passing and individual brilliance.
A dynamic presence in the final third, Enciso provides the unpredictable flair needed to turn defensive sequences into scoring opportunities.
As the most experienced figure in the squad, his set-piece delivery and tactical discipline in midfield are vital for maintaining tempo.
The captain and defensive linchpin is essential for organizing the low block and neutralizing Turkey's technical attackers.
Fun facts
- Paraguay is the only South American nation where the majority of the population speaks an indigenous language, Guaraní, which players often use to communicate tactically on the pitch.
- Levi's Stadium is the first professional football stadium in the United States to receive LEED Gold certification for its high-tech sustainability efforts.
- Turkey’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu enters the 2026 tournament as his nation’s most-capped active player, bridging the gap between the veteran core and the new generation.
- This tournament ends a 16-year World Cup drought for Paraguay, whose last appearance was the 2010 quarter-final run in South Africa.
- Despite their geographical distance, both nations share a deep-rooted tea culture: Turkey with their black çay and Paraguay with their herbal tereré.