World Cup 2026: 62 shots, zero goals and Turkey eliminated from the competition

Turkey is already out of the 2026 World Cup. Defeated by Paraguay (1-0) on the second day of the group stage, Vincenzo Montella's men are officially eliminated from the tournament after just two games. A massive disappointment for a squad playing in its first World Cup in 24 years.

After an opening loss to Australia (2-0), the Turks were under pressure to respond against Paraguay. Yet, despite dominating the match and playing with a numerical advantage for much of the game, they never managed to break the deadlock.

The stats perfectly illustrate their frustration: 32 shots to just 7 for Paraguay in this match, but not a single goal. Across their first two games, Turkey has taken 62 shots without finding the back of the net even once.

At the final whistle, several players broke down emotionally, notably Can Uzun and Mert Müldür, both painfully aware they had missed a historic opportunity.

Talented players who failed to deliver

This early exit is all the more difficult to accept given the promising generation Turkey brought to the tournament. With talents like Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, Can Uzun, and captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, expectations were high.

After waiting nearly a quarter of a century to return to the World Cup, Turkey had hoped to write a new chapter in its footballing story. Instead, they head home with two defeats, no goals scored, and a huge sense of wasted opportunity.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.