Turkey v Paraguay – predictions and odds – 2026 World Cup (20/06/2026)

A crucial clash for survival in Group D. Both Turkey and Paraguay were a major disappointment in their 2026 World Cup openers. The South Americans had a disastrous first half, conceding three goals – half as many as they did throughout the entire qualifying campaign for this tournament. It was also a very poor performance from Vincenzo Montella’s men, who were ineffective in attack despite clearly dominating Australia; their inability to score eventually led to frustration and they ended up making defensive errors that sealed their fate in the 2–0 defeat. Which side will be able to bounce back better from this initial disaster?

Starting with the Turks, it’s worth noting that they have two young players tipped to make a difference in European football, though they are still only 21 years old. Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız possess flashes of pure talent that can win their side matches in a single move. That’s not to say they don’t need teammates who are up to a certain standard. Of course, with players who also know how to compete at the highest level – such as Arturkoglu, Çalhanoglu and Yilmaz – you’d expect the Ottomans to breeze through the group stage. They are certainly the favourites to take all three points in this fixture.

Gustavo Alfaro managed to get Paraguay into a World Cup 16 years after their last appearance. He achieved this by building a rock-solid side, difficult to beat in one-on-one situations and, above all, intense. This was the complete opposite of what they showed in their opening match in Los Angeles against the Americans. Alderete and Gustavo Gómez are battle-hardened veterans, and you wouldn’t expect them to make the mistakes they did in that opening match. Perhaps nerves got the better of a team that, with Sanabria and Enciso, lacks real firepower up front and struggles when they find themselves trailing on the scoreboard. A lot will need to change in a week’s time for the Albirroja to bounce back.

Ultimately, based on the footballing quality and standout players, we believe Montella and his lads can secure the win. They should have learnt from their mistakes against Australia, and we hope Guler will once again be the player who produced key moments at the last European Championship. The risk is high as the South Americans are likely to defend well, but the odds are favourable and it’s worth taking a chance. If the match plays out as expected, it should go off without a hitch.