Five days after absorbing a 2-0 defeat to Australia in their World Cup opener, Türkiye arrive at Levi’s Stadium needing to turn things around fast. They are not alone in their urgency: Paraguay lost 4-1 to the USA in Group Stage 1 and are already staring at a narrow path to the knockout rounds. Two teams with zero points, meeting in round two, with the group still wide open above them.
What’s at stake
Both Türkiye and Paraguay are yet to appear in the group standings after their respective first-round defeats. The full table currently shows Mexico (3 pts) and South Korea (3 pts) at the top after Matchday 1, with Czechia and South Africa on zero points alongside the two sides meeting here. A win on Saturday puts either team back in serious contention for one of the top-two spots; another defeat makes the mathematics very uncomfortable heading into a final group game.
For Türkiye, a second straight loss would leave Vincenzo Montella’s side needing a win in Matchday 3 and hoping other results go their way. For Paraguay, the situation is similar: Gustavo Alfaro’s team conceded four against the USA and must demonstrate they can defend at this level. The winner here claims three points and control of their own fate. The loser faces a third game that becomes close to obligatory.
How they got here
Türkiye’s last five results: L (0-2 vs Australia, World Cup), W (2-1 vs Venezuela, friendly), W (4-0 vs FYR Macedonia, friendly), W (1-0 vs Kosovo, WC qualifying), W (1-0 vs Romania, WC qualifying). The qualifying run was solid and the friendlies built confidence, but Australia exposed something on the day. Paraguay’s last five: L (1-4 vs USA, World Cup), W (4-0 vs Nicaragua, friendly), L (1-2 vs Morocco, friendly), W (1-0 vs Greece, friendly), W (2-1 vs Mexico, friendly). The concession of four against the USA is the data point that stands out; before that, Paraguay had kept their preparation competitive.
Neither team has a current group standing to reference, both sitting outside the top four after one game played. Mexico lead on three points, South Korea are level on three, and the bottom half of the group remains entirely undecided. Three points here would put the winner level with the group leaders on points played, assuming Mexico and South Korea have not yet played their second fixtures.
Key battle to watch
Hakan Calhanoglu’s ability to control the tempo from deep midfield will be central to how Türkiye perform. Against Australia, Montella’s side were unable to build any sustained rhythm in the final third. Paraguay, for their part, relied heavily on Miguel Almiron to carry the ball forward but were repeatedly cut open down the flanks by the USA. If Calhanoglu can pin Paraguay’s press and find Arda Guler in tight spaces between the lines, Türkiye have the creative tools to open up a side that has shown defensive vulnerability. Whether Paraguay’s midfield can deny him that time and space is the tactical contest that will likely determine the result.
Key Stats
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Our Prediction
Both teams carry defensive questions into this fixture. Türkiye’s squad depth in midfield gives them an edge in dictating terms, and home-side status at Levi’s Stadium, combined with Paraguay’s defensive exposure against the USA, points toward a Türkiye performance with at least one clean moment of quality from Calhanoglu or Guler. Paraguay have enough up front to keep this competitive, but Türkiye look marginally better equipped to grind out the result they need.