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Arun - June 19, 2026
Turkey and Paraguay meet at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Friday night in a Group D match that amounts to a straight elimination game for both sides.
Turkey were stunned 2-0 by Australia on matchday one, while Paraguay were thumped 4-1 by the USA. Both sides sit on zero points, and the loser here is almost certainly heading home before the final group game.
Our Turkey vs Paraguay prediction has the full breakdown of the match scenario and the best tips which excellent value for punters.
Vincenzo Montella has no fresh injury concerns and no suspensions heading into this match. The three players who carried knocks into the tournament, Hakan Calhanoglu, Kenan Yildiz and Ferdi Kadioglu, all came through the Australia game and are all projected to start here.
Yildiz was restricted to a substitute appearance against Australia as Montella managed his calf problem carefully, but he is now expected to start from the beginning.
Montella is expected to stick with his 4-2-3-1 formation despite the disappointing performance against Australia. Ugurcan Cakir continues in goal. Zeki Celik and Ferdi Kadioglu are the full-backs, with Merih Demiral and Abdulkerim Bardakci in the centre.
Kadioglu was one of Turkey’s better performers against Australia, creating five chances from left-back. Calhanoglu and Orkun Kokcu anchor the midfield double pivot, with Calhanoglu in his 108th international appearance taking responsibility for set-pieces.
The attacking unit carries genuine quality with Arda Guler operates in the number ten role and is Turkey’s primary creative outlet. Yildiz and Baris Alper Yilmaz provide the wide threat, with Kerem Akturkoglu leading the line as the lone striker.
The talent was never the problem against Australia. Turkey dominated possession and had 30 shots without scoring. Application and finishing are what Montella needs his side to improve on here, with the stakes as high as they get.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Ugurcan Cakir
Defenders: Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ferdi Kadioglu
Midfield: Hakan Calhanoglu, Orkun Kokcu
Attacking mid: Kenan Yildiz, Arda Guler, Baris Alper Yilmaz
Forward: Kerem Akturkoglu
Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro has one confirmed absentee. Forward Gustavo Caballero missed the USA match with an injury and remains unavailable here. Beyond that, Alfaro has a largely fit group and is expected to name a side close to the one that started against the USA, despite the heavy 4-1 defeat.
Julio Enciso, who had been managing a thigh problem heading into the tournament, came through the USA game without incident and is fit to start. The Brighton midfielder is Paraguay’s most dangerous attacking player and assisted in the opener before being replaced in the second half.
He is expected to start alongside Antonio Sanabria up front. Orlando Gill continues in goal, with Gustavo Gomez marshalling the central defence alongside Omar Alderete. Junior Alonso and Juan Jose Caceres are the full-backs.
The key midfield battle will pit Miguel Almiron and the Paraguay engine room of Andres Cubas and Damian Bobadilla against Turkey’s more technical pivot. Almiron’s pace and directness from wide will be central to any Paraguay threat on the counter. Paraguay were overrun for long periods against the USA but showed resilience in the second half, pulling a goal back through Mauricio and refusing to give up.
Alfaro will set up defensively and look to exploit the space behind Turkey’s full-backs through Enciso and Almiron. For all our World Cup 2026 tips and predictions throughout the tournament, head to the hub.
Formation: 4-4-2
GK: Orlando Gill
Defenders: Junior Alonso, Omar Alderete, Gustavo Gomez, Juan Jose Caceres
Midfield: Miguel Almiron, Damian Bobadilla, Andres Cubas, Diego Gomez
Forwards: Antonio Sanabria, Julio Enciso
