2026 World Cup / Paraguay Eliminates Turkey, Galarza Rewrites This Edition's Record

Paraguay scored with a long-range shot from outside the penalty area by Galarza (jersey number 23) just 64 seconds into the match, setting a new record for the fastest goal in this World Cup. On the 19th, in the 2026 World Cup, Paraguay's Matias Galarza broke the record for the fastest goal of this edition. Despite the pressure of star player Miguel Almiron receiving a red card and being sent off, they held on to win 1-0 against Turkey, narrowly keeping their hopes of advancing alive. Returning to the World Cup stage after a 16-year absence, Paraguay and Turkey had both lost their opening group stage matches against the USA and Australia, respectively. Facing each other now, both teams hoped to secure their first win of the tournament and keep their chances of advancing alive. Consequently, the match was intense from the start. Although Paraguay's statistics were clearly inferior to their opponents', they ultimately secured a crucial victory, signaling Turkey's elimination from advancing to the knockout stage. In the first half of the match, both teams adopted a fast-paced offensive strategy. Just 64 seconds after kickoff, Paraguay took the lead with Galarza's "lightning goal" from a long shot outside the penalty area, quickly establishing an advantage and setting a new record for the fastest goal in this World Cup.