The Turkish national team is facing a significant setback at the 2026 World Cup after suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Paraguay, resulting in a 0-1 loss. This follows their opening match defeat against Australia, which ended 2-0. Vincenzo Montella’s squad has thus been eliminated from the tournament, leading to nationwide mourning and severe criticism from local media, former coaches, and ex-national team players.
Devastating scenes unfolded at the San Francisco stadium following the final whistle, as players displayed raw emotion on the pitch. Arda Güler, the team’s attacking star, struggled to contain his tears, reflecting the despair felt throughout the squad. Turkey had entered the tournament as the favorite in their group, making this unexpected outcome all the more impactful.
The most talked-about moment of the day on social media came from footage captured by Turkish public television, which focused on Güler moments after the match concluded. The broadcaster recorded the heartfelt words of the Real Madrid midfielder as he looked skyward in disbelief.
“Oh my God. Why?” Arda said, gazing up at the sky for a few moments.
Compounding the team’s struggles, a scandal emerged before the match against Australia, with allegations swirling regarding the captain’s suspected smoking.