2026 World Cup Group D: Turkiye vs Paraguay Preview, Odds and Predictions (June 19)

• When: Friday, June 19, 2026. 11:00 PM ET
• Where: Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco, California, United States
• How to Watch: FS1

The 2026 World Cup begins the second round of matches with the fourth matchup in Group D getting underway in San Francisco as Turkiye duels with Paraguay. These two squads will likely be in direct competition for a qualifying spot in the group, meaning that there will be pressure on both nations on MD2.

ALSO SEE: World Cup 2026: Our Experts Share Their World Cup Picks

Turkiye Stats & Team News

Turkiye entered the tournament as one of the favorites to come out of Group D, competing with the hosting United States for the top spot. However, a 2-0 upset loss to Australia has placed their World Cup hopes at major risk of going out early in the group stage.

The Turks need to bounce back in this upcoming matchup, facing early elimination if they suffer another loss after two matchdays. They need the defense to significantly improve while seeking their first goal of the tournament, whether it comes from Arda Guler or Kerem Akturkoglu..

Likely Lineup:

(4-2-3-1) Cakir (GK); Kadioglu, Bardakci, Demiral, Celik; Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Guler, Kokcu, Yilmaz; Akturkoglu

Paraguay Stats & Team News

Paraguay stood out as an underdog in Group D, looking to have great performances on defense while attacking with counters. However, the U.S. overwhelmed them in the group opener, falling in a stunning 4-1 defeat.

This game stands out as a must-win for Paraguay, needing better displays on offense. Needing more activity on defense, they must be active on the counters with Miguel Almiron and Julio Enciso commanding the attack.

Likely Lineup:

(4-4-2) Gill (GK); Maidana, Alderete, G. Gomez, Caceres; Almiron, Bobadilla, Cubas, D. Gomez; Enciso, Sanabria

Head-to-Head Stats

• This is the first meeting between Turkiye and Paraguay.
• This will be the first competitive meeting between the nations.

Turkiye vs. Paraguay World Cup Picks

This match looks to be a very defensive performance, especially after falling in their openers due to crucial errors on that side of the ball. Both squads will make the effort in creating chances on the counter or with set pieces, an area that Turkiye looks to have the edge in. It would be safe to believe that Turkiye takes this one by a 1-0 score.