Türkiye face Paraguay on Friday, June 19 at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, a Group D meeting that both nations now need to win after suffering defeats on the opening matchday. Türkiye returned to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years only to lose to Australia 2, Türkiye 0 in Vancouver, while Paraguay were beaten USA 4, Paraguay 1 in Los Angeles in their first appearance since 2010.
This guide covers everything you need before kick off, including how to watch, full team news, verified squad lists, a tactical breakdown, and wider context on the 2026 Football World Cup.
Key Details
- Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
- Kick off Time: 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT (4 a.m. BST Saturday / 8:30 a.m. IST Saturday / 1 p.m. AEST Saturday)
- Venue: Levi’s Stadium, known for this tournament as the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California
- Where to Watch: FS1 (USA) | ITV1 (UK) | SBS (Australia) | Zee5 (India)
Where to Watch Türkiye vs Paraguay Football World Cup Match?
Fox Sports holds the English language rights in the USA on FS1, while ITV1 carries the match live in the UK alongside Spanish language coverage on Telemundo and Peacock in the United States. SBS covers the match free to air in Australia and Zee5 streams the tournament across India.
FS1, ITV1, and SBS are all free to air or available through a standard subscription package, with no extra pay per view charge for this fixture.
How to watch Türkiye vs Paraguay with a VPN
If the match is unavailable in your region, a VPN unlocks free access to ITVX, the streaming home of ITV1 in the UK. ITVX is geoblocked to the UK, so a VPN is needed to appear as though you are browsing from inside the country.
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app.
- Connect to a UK server to get a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX and sign in, or create a free account.
- Search for the Türkiye vs Paraguay match and start streaming live.
Türkiye Vs Paraguay Football World Cup Team News
Both sides head into matchday two carrying the weight of an opening defeat, which has sharpened the team news lines on either side of this fixture.
Türkiye team news
Vincenzo Montella has managed Türkiye since 2023, having previously led Fiorentina, AC Milan, Sevilla, and Adana Demirspor after a playing career that included a EURO 2000 final with Italy. Under Montella, Türkiye reached the quarterfinals of EURO 2024 before sealing their return to the World Cup by beating Romania then Kosovo in the playoff path.
Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu anchors the midfield after winning Serie A twice with Inter and reaching two Champions League finals. He missed the start of the Australia match through a late introduction but came on to add control in the closing stages.
Türkiye finished their preparation with a comeback win, Türkiye 2, Venezuela 1, in Fort Lauderdale, with goals from Barış Alper Yılmaz and Yunus Akgün either side of half time. That confidence did not carry into the tournament opener, where Türkiye dominated possession but lost Australia 2, Türkiye 0, with Kenan Yıldız only introduced from the bench at half time.
Goalkeepers Ersin Destanoğlu and Muhammed Şengezer, along with six other players, were cut from the provisional squad before the final 26 was confirmed. No fresh injuries have been reported since the Australia match, leaving Montella with his full group available to select from for the Paraguay game.
Montella generally favors a settled back four protected by a double pivot, with Güler operating as the creative number 10 behind a front line led by Yıldız and Yılmaz. The plan against Australia produced 30 attempts on goal but only seven on target, so greater composure in the final third is the clear requirement this time.
Paraguay team news
Gustavo Alfaro took charge of Paraguay in August 2024, replacing Daniel Garnero after a difficult start to qualifying, and previously guided Ecuador to the 2022 World Cup. Known across South America as a defensive disciplinarian, Alfaro turned Asunción into a fortress, with home wins over Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay securing automatic qualification.
Captain Gustavo Gómez, who plays his club football for Palmeiras, is closing in on 90 international caps and anchors the center of Paraguay’s back four alongside Omar Alderete. Forward Julio Enciso, the team’s leading creative threat, was carried off in tears during the final warm up friendly with a thigh injury that put his tournament in doubt.
Paraguay closed their preparation with Paraguay 4, Nicaragua 0, in Asunción, with goals from Kaku, Miguel Almirón, Matías Galarza, and Alexandro Maidana overshadowed by the Enciso injury scare. He recovered enough to start the World Cup opener, though Paraguay still suffered USA 4, Paraguay 1, after an early own goal from Damián Bobadilla opened the floodgates.
There are no fresh injury concerns beyond Enciso continuing to manage his fitness, and no suspensions affect the squad for this match. Substitute Maurício scored Paraguay’s only goal against the USA and could push for more minutes if Enciso is managed carefully.
Alfaro typically sets up in a compact back four behind a double pivot, switching between a 4 4 2 and a 4 2 3 1 depending on the opponent, with Almirón as the main outlet on the counter. Their defensive shape collapsed under sustained pressure from the USA, so containing Türkiye’s wide players will be the priority heading into Santa Clara.
Türkiye World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Altay Bayındır, Mert Günok, Uğurcan Çakır
- Defenders: Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Çağlar Söyüncü, Eren Elmalı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Merih Demiral, Mert Müldür, Ozan Kabak, Samet Akaydın, Zeki Çelik
- Midfielders: Hakan Çalhanoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Kaan Ayhan, Orkun Kökçü, Salih Özcan
- Attackers: Arda Güler, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Can Uzun, Deniz Gül, İrfan Can Kahveci, Kenan Yıldız, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Oğuz Aydın, Yunus Akgün
Paraguay World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Gatito Fernández, Orlando Gill, Gastón Olveira
- Defenders: Gustavo Gómez, Júnior Alonso, Fabián Balbuena, Omar Alderete, Juan José Cáceres, Gustavo Velázquez, José Canale, Alexandro Maidana
- Midfielders: Miguel Almirón, Kaku, Andrés Cubas, Ramón Sosa, Diego Gómez, Damián Bobadilla, Braian Ojeda, Matías Galarza, Maurício
- Attackers: Antonio Sanabria, Julio Enciso, Gabriel Ávalos, Álex Arce, Isidro Pitta, Gustavo Caballero
Türkiye VS Paraguay Match Preview
Türkiye and Paraguay meet on June 19 at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium carrying near identical scenarios, both already a goal difference in the red after matchday one. This is only the second meeting between the two nations and the first at a World Cup, adding fresh history to a fixture that already feels decisive for both groups.
Türkiye dominated the ball against Australia but could not solve a deep, disciplined block, a pattern that may repeat against a Paraguay side built the same way. Paraguay showed flashes of resistance against the USA before their structure broke down in transition, conceding four goals to a faster, more direct attack.
Anything less than a win pushes the loser to the brink, since a defeat here would leave that side needing to beat the USA or Australia outright while also relying on other results. A draw keeps both within reach of the third placed qualification places, but only just, given how congested Group D already looks after one round of fixtures.
Tactical Outlook
Montella is expected to keep faith with Güler as the number 10, with Yıldız starting from the first whistle this time rather than waiting for the second half as he did against Australia. Barış Alper Yılmaz’s direct running and physical strength will likely be aimed squarely at Paraguay’s left side, testing the recovery pace of Júnior Alonso.
Alfaro is expected to sit Paraguay in a compact mid block, inviting Türkiye to attack and looking to spring Almirón and Enciso into space on the counter. The key individual battle pits Yılmaz against captain Gustavo Gómez, whose positional discipline will be central to keeping the scoreline level for as long as possible.
Türkiye need quicker decision making in the final third after wasting their early dominance in Vancouver, while Paraguay need a far sharper start than the one that cost them against the USA. Whichever side controls the tempo in the opening twenty minutes is likely to dictate how much the other can rely on its preferred defensive setup.
Football World Cup Match Schedule
| Date | Match | City |
|---|---|---|
| June 19 | Türkiye vs. Paraguay | San Francisco |
| June 19 | USA vs. Australia | Seattle |
| June 20 | Netherlands vs. Sweden | Houston |
| June 21 | Spain vs. Saudi Arabia | Atlanta |
| June 22 | Argentina vs. Austria | Dallas |
| June 23 | England vs. Ghana | Boston |
| June 25 | Türkiye vs. USA | Los Angeles |
| June 25 | Paraguay vs. Australia | San Francisco |
2026 Football World Cup Preview
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
2026 Football World Cup Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition now consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament will advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, this World Cup will last 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in 2026 Football World Cup
There will be 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where these games will take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match is especially historic. The tournament kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in World Cup history, and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event.
The Stars to Watch in 2026 Football World Cup
The 2026 Football World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
2026 Football World Cup Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Prize Money and Commercial Scale for 2026 Football World Cup
The prize money for this World Cup was confirmed at a official meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended World Cup with 3.6 million fans. But that record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
2026 Football World Cup official broadcasters
Here’s a list of the official broadcasters for the 2026 Football World Cup Qatar in different countries across the world.
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
2026 Football World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is more than a football tournament; it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
The match kicks off on Friday, June 19, 2026 at 11 p.m. ET at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, formally known as Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, California.
Both nations are in Group D alongside tournament hosts USA and Australia, with all three group matches for both teams played on the West Coast.
Türkiye won their final warm up friendly against Venezuela but then lost their World Cup opener, Australia 2, Türkiye 0, in Vancouver despite dominating possession.
Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso carry most of Paraguay’s attacking responsibility, with Enciso still managing the thigh injury that nearly kept him out of the tournament entirely.
Using a VPN is generally legal in most countries, though streaming services may restrict accounts that breach their terms of service, so check local regulations and the broadcaster’s policy before signing up.
Group D ties are broken first by overall goal difference, then by goals scored, head to head result, fair play record, and finally a drawing of lots if needed.
