It’s time for me to go for a long walk in complete silence to come down from that heart-thumping, gasp-inducing insanity.

Here’s the match report from one of the wildest, most unforgettable World Cup games you may ever see. I’ll see you, hopefully, at the next one.

Turkey are the first nation to be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. No matter their result against the USA in the third and final match day of the group stage, the head-to-head rule means they can’t finish any higher than fourth in Group D.

Meanwhile, Paraguay jump to third spot, equal on points with Australia (3). These two sides will face each other in the last game, with the Socceroos needing a win or a draw to progress automatically in second spot.

The eight best third-placed teams across the tournament will also make it through to the round of 32.

Your emails are flooding in after this result, with a lot of admiration for the guts and spirit shown by Paraguay to defend their first-minute lead.

Richard from New Zealand says: “I told you Paraguay would win. Be like Wigan. Be like Chelsea and Park the bus. 21% possession. Mom the Paraguay keeper. Great ref. Like the new rules!!”

And Carlos is scathing of Turkey, who have arguably shown the biggest disparity between pre-tournament expectations and execution: “As Barry would say, Turkey were diabolical. This was worse than their performance against the mighty Australia. No imagination, just countless poor crosses into the box and shots from distance. They’re deservedly out of this World Cup. Many people’s dark horses!”

The full-time whistle rings out and a number of Turkey players fall to their knees. Some burst into tears. Others have their heads in their hands. They threw everything they had at this game: 32 shots, 51 touches in the box, 12 corners, and almost 80% possession. But Paraguay, like Australia, bunkered down and defended with their lives, throwing themselves at every cross, shot, and pass. The Paraguayans erupt in cheers, sprinting around the field to hug their team-mates and coaching staff. A heroic effort with ten players after the fastest goal in this World Cup so far. What a match.

90+9 mins: Arda Guler curls it towards the six-yard area, but Gill punches it clear. The captain Calhanoglu, stationed outside the box, puts his foot through it… but it fizzes wide of the post. That’s it.

90+8 mins: A wasteful Turkish corner is cleared by Paraguay, with Turkey’s fate now in the referee’s hands. They win a final free kick. The goalkeeper is up.

90+7 mins: TURKEY ALMOST EQUALISE. A stunning, bending cross from the left finds the towering Demiral, who’s been thrown up front now in the dying minute. He launches himself into the air to try and redirect the ball towards the back post, but it just bounces wide.

90+6 mins: Turkey are desperate now, shooting again and again from around Paraguay’s penalty area. But it keeps clattering off Paraguayan shirts. They’re living a charmed life.

90+5 mins: A long throw by Paraguay in their own attacking third. They try to keep it down their end, as far from their goal as possible. Turkey tries to win possession back and find a pass upfield but it’s intercepted near the top of the box. Paraguay send it towards the back post and a Turkish head just reaches it in time to head it away.

90+3 mins: Kenan Yildiz, who’s been working tirelessly all night down the left wing, sends another squared pass towards the six-yard area but the mighty Gomez throws himself in the way, and receives a shove in the back in the process. Paraguay with some breathing-room to pump the ball upfield.

90+2 mins: 7 minutes of added time. 7 minutes for Turkey to rescue their World Cup campaign.

90+1 mins: Paraguay substitutes. Gabriel Avalos is on for the excellent Julio Enciso, while the goal-scorer Matias Galarzo is being stretchered off to be replaced by Jose Canale.

90 mins: Paraguay go down the other end through the brilliant Enciso, who takes on two Turkish defenders before cutting back for a team-mate. There’s acres of space near the top of Turkey’s penalty area that he steps into and shoots, but the ball clangs off a white shirt and spins upfield.

89 mins: The biggest chance for Turkey! Following Paraguay’s free kick, they race down the other end through a long ball in behind for Yilmax. The substitute striker cuts inside and squares for a team-mate near the penalty spot, who shoots low and hard. The ball is blocked initially by Gill in goal, but it’s spilled and falls to Gul, who skews his follow-up wide of the near post.

88 mins: Paraguay win a smart free kick right near their own corner flag after Galarza is shoved to the ground by Elmali. The goal-scorer snuck a little look over his shoulder and went down easily, but they’ll want all the time possible down this end.

86 mins: Turkey substitute. Kokcu is on for Bardakci.

85 mins: Turkey nearly equalise! A fizzing cross from the right skims across the six-yard area for Gul, but somehow the ball bounces and spins through his legs as he flies through the air instead. Did Gomez get a touch on its way through?

84 mins: Paraguay almost make it two! A brilliant free kick swings in behind Turkey’s back-line, and in the forest of legs and bodies, the ball spins off a Paraguayan leg and towards Turkey’s far post, but goalkeeper Cakir dives horizontally to his left and paws it away.

Official attendance is 68,827. Close to a full-house at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, and they’ve been witness to one of the wildest matches of the World Cup so far.

82 mins: Paraguay substitute as Caceres comes off for Alexandro Maidana.

80 mins: Some great passing from Turkey in and around Paraguay’s box, with Yildiz trying to wriggle away into some space. He squares for a team-mate, who takes one too many touches before being closed down near the top of the box, and slides a pass to the right side. The ball is squared perfectly towards the penalty spot but Demiral, the centre-back who’s still somehow up in his attacking area, skews wide.

79 mins: Paraguay’s goal-scorer Galarza is taken out by Bardakci, who cramps up immediately lying on the grass. The sideline, full of Paraguayan fans, are on their feet pointing and yelling at the Turkish centre-back for such a reckless challenge, which somehow goes without a yellow card.

78 mins: A wicked cross from outside the box arrows towards the head of Muldur, who’s facing with his back to goal. He tries to sense where the goal is behind him and flicks the ball on with his head, but it flies over the crossbar. That’s Turkey’s 24th shot of the match so far.

76 mins: Turkey win another corner, their 10th of the game. It’s hit low and hard, but Gul hand-balls it in the box and Paraguay get a moment to breathe.

74 mins: The half-moments keep on coming as a cross-shot wobbles in the air, forcing Paraguay’s goalkeeper into a save, with Turkey winning a corner a minute later. Paraguay have completed just eight passes in this entire second half.

72 mins: Turkey with a brilliant break-away down the right after a cross-field pass finds substitute Yilmaz. He has an overlapping player to his right and two team-mates charging into the box to his left, but he shapes and shoots himself, sending the ball spinning over the crossbar. The stadium erupts into whistles and boos, and he waves in apology.

71 mins: We’re back and the referee immediately brandishes a yellow card for Eren Elmali, who literally just came onto the field, for clattering into the back of a Paraguayan player mid-air.

68 mins: Hydration break for them and for us. Another chaotic quarter, and Turkey look like they’re starting to panic. Despite having an extra player, they still haven’t found their much-needed equaliser.

67 mins: Gomez off, Velazquez on. Meanwhile, the referee has sprinted towards the Paraguay goalkeeper to give him a talking-to about taking too long to restart play. Arda Guler ran into the box and kicked the ball away, believing it was their free kick. But the referee clarifies and the ball is back on the grass for a goal kick.

65 mins: An impatient Demiral winds up and sends a long strike way up into the stands behind Paraguay’s goal. Meanwhile, Gomez is down again with substitute Gustavo Velazquez standing on the sideline ready to replace him.

64 mins: Paraguay had to defend a corner just now with nine players after Gomez spent a minute on the sidelines getting a foot stomp seen to. He’s back on now, and Turkey keep coming.

63 mins: Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella gets a yellow card after yelling about a foul called against one of his players a moment ago.

62 mins: Huge chance for Turkey! A perfect chipped cross from Yildiz on the left side of the area floats over three Paraguayan defenders and onto the head of substitute Gul, but there’s no power on the header and the ball falls straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.

61 mins: Up the other end, Paraguay’s best hope Enciso receives a fizzing ball in the box and turns to shoot but the ball skims just wide.

60 mins: Two substitutions for Turkey. Yuksek and Akgun are off, replaced by Deniz Gul and Can Uzun.

59 mins: A scramble in the six-yard box! A long-range strike from Turkey’s midfield skims off a Paraguayan head and clangs off goalkeeper Gill. The ball spills into the grass towards a Turkish boot, but two defenders fling themselves to the ground to smother the shot.

56 mins: Calhanoglu floats a sensational cross towards the six-yard area, at exactly the speed and curl needed for a Turkish head to flick on into the gaping net, but there’s nobody there except Yuksek who times his run poorly and watches the ball bounce out for a goal kick.

55 mins: Paraguay counter after a poor pass down the other end, with Enciso picking up the ball near half-way and sprinting all the way into Turkey’s box. He almost clips the ball inside to steady himself for a shot, but a Turkish leg pokes the ball from underneath him and clears it away.

54 mins: Yilmaz is penalised for a strong (but fair, I thought) shoulder-to-shoulder challenge on a Paraguayan defender. The substitute striker turns and holds his arms wide at the referee, wondering how on earth it was a foul. Fair point.

53 mins: Yildiz once again with a nice piece of skill to skip past a Paraguayan defender and fire a cross towards the penalty area, but it’s hoofed wildly away by a hopeful dark blue shin.

50 mins: 10-man Paraguay will have to throw everything of themselves at this second half to maintain their slim 1-0 lead. But they’ve got a furious Turkey side with an extra player to contend with. Enciso is Paraguay’s only advanced player as the rest of his team sits in two deep lines behind the ball, parked in their own penalty area. How long can they keep this up?

49 mins: Kenan Yildiz, who’s been perhaps Turkey’s brightest attacking spark, immediately finds the ball at his feet after the goal kick and tears into the left side of the box, but his shot cracks into the side netting.

48 mins: Turkey win the first corner of the second half as their travelling fans turn up the volume. But Guler’s curling corner is headed away at the near post by Gomez.

One substitute for both teams at the half-time break:

Paraguay striker Pitta has been hooked, replaced by Bobadilla in midfield.

For Turkey, Baris Yilmaz comes on for Akturkoglu.

Now here’s a great trivia fact from Erik:

“Is Almiron the first player to get a yellow for the mistaken identity check AND the first to get a red for covering his mouth?”

Yes, he is!

What does Turkey need to do from here? Their World Cup hangs in the balance of this game, and while they’ve had 72% possession, 12 shots and 5 corners, they haven’t really looked like equalising.

Burt asks: “Are Turkey going to lose again to another smash and grab? Looked possible until the send off.”

First time we’ve seen a direct red card given to a player for covering their mouths during a game, with Paraguay’s talismanic Miguel Almiron sent off.

It’s a new rule introduced to this World Cup to prevent players from making racist and homophobic comments, which they have previously been able to get away with by hiding their mouths under their hands.

As Ted observes: “That looked reflexive from Almiron, perhaps harsh to give him a red but if we’re going to stamp out this behavior then this is what is needed. He certainly won’t do it again.”

Loving the wordplay from Peter here.

“Seeing Almiron sent off for covering his mouth must make Paraguay fans want to cover their eyes.

If Turkey want to live up to their dark horse tag, they had better break into a gallop soon. So far it’s been only stop-and-go trotting here and there.”

My very own horse-girl partner is particularly chuffed with the last one.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed in to clarify Turkey’s future at this World Cup! Steve summarises it best:

“If Turkey lose tonight, they will 100% finish bottom of the group due to the priority of the various group stage tie-breakers. Even if they were to be best the USA in the last game, with 3 points they would be in a tie with either Australia or Paraguay - with both of those teams holding the tie-breaker (I.e., the head-to-head record) over Turkey.”

There’s a bit of afters as the two sides come off the pitch, with the substitutes and staff from both teams coming together near the half-way line. It’s hard to tell who is who as they’re all wearing the same coloured bibs, but the officials and others are holding their arms trying to create distance between shouting and pointing players.

90+9 mins: A rocket shot from Calhanoglu cracks Gomez right in the head and the Paraguay captain staggers backwards and falls into the grass. The referee whistles play dead and signals for a head injury, but he’s up and moving within moments.

45+7 mins: Turkey continue trying to find spaces and angles down the left side, moving in triangles as they attempt to wrench Paraguay’s tight defence apart. A desperate shot spins wide of the near post as this never-ending half somehow continues.

45+5 mins: One of the final acts of a tense first half is Ismail Yuksek taking two long touches near the top of Paraguay’s penalty area and launching a shot just over the crossbar.

That’s the 7th red card of this World Cup, already almost double the total number from Qatar in 2022.

45+1 mins: Six minutes of added time but it’s all happening now! Paraguay striker Pitta is taken out near the centre-circle and suddenly players from both sides are crashing together on the pitch, fronting up to one another as tensions continue to flare. The referee does well to control things as both captains try to pull their players away, but Ivan Barton suddenly signals a VAR review for a possible red card.

45 mins: Enciso with a brilliant individual run for Paraguay, picking up the ball near Turkey’s box and dancing around one, two, three defenders. He’s steered towards the right-hand side before clipping a cross back towards the penalty spot, but it’s headed away.

43 mins: For all Turkey’s possessive dominance, the same ghost of the Australian game haunts them. They’ve had 7 shots, but just 1 on target. Paraguay are doing well to shut down those central spaces and force Turkey to find other paths to goal, but at what point do you just put your foot through it and hope for a lucky ricochet?

39 mins: Chaos! Turkey attack right back with Gomez seemingly taking out a Akturkoglu off the ball just as the striker stepped into the penalty area. He slides on his stomach towards the penalty spot, but the referee doesn’t want a bar of it.

38 mins: A yellow card is shown to a member of the Paraguayan coaching staff for an unclear reason.

37 mins: Paraguay race down the other end to try and pounce on Turkey’s overcommitment further up the field. Galarza sprints onto a fizzed cross-field pass down the left before squaring for Enciso, but he’s bundled up by two Turkey defenders and forced backwards. Paraguay recirculate the ball around the top of the area to the right, and the eventual shot clangs off the body of the goalkeeper and is thumped clear.

35 mins: Turkey almost equalise! A super free-kick by Guler is headed by a charging Muldur near the six-yard area, but the ball somehow hits both the crossbar and the near post before bouncing back into play. A Paraguay defender is the first to react and scoops it away.

32 mins: A half-shout for a penalty by Yuksek who drove into the box, but a terrifically-timed tackle by Gomez (I think), which saw the Turkish defender tumble into the grass, is waved away by the referee.

31 mins: Arda Guler stands over yet another free kick, sending a deep curling ball towards the penalty spot. But it’s headed over the crossbar before the referee signals for a Paraguay free kick anyway. Whistles erupt around the stadium after the confusion.

29 mins: We’re back, and I’ve learned in that short break that Paraguay’s goal was faster than Morocco’s goal earlier today by approximately six seconds.

Some emails coming through in the meantime.

Paul asks: “They’re saying that Turkiye are out if this score stays like this. Is that right? Can they not still finish third, and join that lottery for a qualification place? Help an old man out.”

I was similarly confused. Turkey can mathematically still finish third if they defeat the USA on the final match day, but they’d have to do it by quite a margin to overcome the worst goal difference in the group (-3). So practically they may very well be on their way home if the scoreline stays this way.

26 mins: The referee whistles for the first hydration break, and thank goodness. I think I need to catch my breath more than the players do.

25 mins: Turkey come again and again, peppering Paraguay’s penalty area with shots and corners and crosses, but they continue to be thumped and hoofed away by some desperate defenders.

24 mins: Yildiz is shoved in the back on the left side of the field to win yet another free kick. Calhanoglu stands over it… and it’s headed behind for another Turkey corner.

Fun fact: Paraguay’s goal, scored in the 65th second of this match, doesn’t even make the top ten of fastest World Cup goals ever. Ironically, the fastest ever goal belongs to Turkey at 11 seconds in 2002 against South Korea.

20 mins: Some very physical defending from Paraguay as Turkey gain more and more control of the ball. They keep trying to find Yildiz down the left and Akgun or Guler down the right, and Paraguay’s intense defending is giving away a lot of corners. Can Turkey capitalise?

18 mins: Paraguay are stacking five at the back now while off the ball. Turkey are prodding and proving on both sides of the pitch, but regularly crash up against two dark blue shirts when trying to thread a pass inside.

16 mins: Paraguay try to counter-attack after Almiron sprints onto a loose ball down the right wing and sends it behind Turkey’s back-line for Pitta. The striker tears across the grass to latch onto it, twists away from a defender and cuts the ball back into the area… only for the referee to blow the whistle for offside.

15 mins: Turkey win a lucky free kick after Paraguay’s goalkeeper Gill took too long to restart play, in one of the many new rules introduced for this World Cup. But it’s headed clear.

14 mins: Turkey’s best chance of the match so far comes through a counter-attack down the right. Striker Akturkoglu carries the ball into the box down the right side and cuts back for Arda Guler, whose shot from just outside the area flies over the crossbar.

11 mins: After a spell of Turkish possession, Paraguay come down the other end via a throw. A deep curling cross from the right is deflected away, and midfielder Diego Gomez comes charging in and launches his long-distance shot over the crossbar. It seems to whack a Turkey fan right in the torso somewhere behind the goal.

9 mins: A really open start to this match with both sides finding spaces out wide to whip in some dangerous crosses. Turkey are starting to edge possession and are finding more opportunities down both wings, but Paraguay are doing well to clog the central channels with bodies and prevent any clear shots.

6 mins: Paraguay win a free kick now after Almiron was shocked over by Yildiz. That opening goal has taken the tension of this game up another level already. Turkey win the ball back a moment later and try to develop some passing patterns, but Paraguay are staying compact and pressing high and hard.

4 mins: Just minutes after scoring, Galarza receives the first yellow card of the match after careening into Yunus Akgun.

2 mins: Matias Galarza was brought into the starting XI for Paraguay and it’s paid off immediately. The midfielder picks up a ball and takes a step into space near the top of Turkey’s penalty area before rocketing a low shot into the bottom corner. Incredible opening moments.

And for those keen-eyed viewers who have noticed an unusual amount of hot-pink boots across the World Cup so far, including a bunch of players about to make their way out onto the grass for the anthems, here’s a great yarn from Lauren Cochrane about why.

Plenty of fans are flooding into San Fransisco Bay Area Stadium for today’s final match, which is sitting at a gorgeous 19 degrees C (67 degrees F) and clear skies. A perfect evening for football, which hopefully delivers much more focused and effective performances from both sides compared to their opening games.

Meanwhile, Brazil have held onto their 3-0 lead against Haiti to claim top spot in Group C, though it wasn’t as convincing a performance as what many had hoped from the South American giants against a relative minnow of world football. An injury to Raphinha will be a particular worry.

Matheus Cunha found the back of the net twice in the opening half, and Vinicus Jr made it two in two matches, after which Carlo Ancelotti’s side seemed more focussed on conserving energy and seeing out the clock than finding more goals. It is a decision that may come back to haunt them if goal difference is what separates them from Morocco at the top of Group C.

Turkey fans will be thrilled to see their two starlets, Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, starting their first World Cup match together.

Guler, the Real Madrid creative attacking midfielder, was kept largely at bay by Australia’s resolute defence a week ago, but still managed to deliver some sneaky through-balls and find small pockets of space in and around the penalty area. He’s also a free-kick specialist, so Paraguay will need to be careful not to give away too many fouls outside their own area.

Yildiz, meanwhile, made an immediate impact when he came on in the second half against the Socceroos. The Juventus winger added a new dimension to Turkey’s otherwise-muted left-sided attack, isn’t afraid to take on defenders one v one, and delivers some pin-point crosses and cut-backs for teammates to run onto.

With Guler moved into central midfield and Yunus Akgun brought onto the right side, the connection the two 21-year-olds can make could be the difference today.

A surprise start for attacker Isidro Pitta, who was so certain he wouldn’t be called up to Paraguay’s squad for the World Cup that he had already booked a holiday to Spain with his family during the tournament.

Nicknamed ‘Viking’ due to his long hair and big ginger beard, he’s found form at Red Bull Bragantino and is described as “a fighter, a tireless worker and a constant nuisance for opposition defences” in the Guardian’s World Cup player guide.

For more information about him, and plenty more fun and quirky facts about the two starting XIs, check out the guide below.

Elsewhere, Brazil are maintaining a comfortable 3-0 lead over Haiti. If they maintain or extend that, they’ll leapfrog Morocco and sit pretty at the top of Group C.

Check out Jonathan Howcroft’s live updates below as we wait for the Turkey and Paraguay line-ups.

There are a few players worth keeping an eye on for both sides today.

Despite struggling to break down a resolute Australian defence, Turkey’s Arda Guler continued chipping away with neat little passes and crosses, and always found small pockets to drift into around the penalty area.

Team-mate and elder statesman Hakan Calhanoglu is Turkey’s midfield engine, while winger Kenan Yildiz made an immediate impact when he came off the bench a week ago.

For Paraguay, Julio Enciso was one of their better performers in their loss to the USA on the first match day, assisting the consolation goal from substitute Mauricio in the second half.

Andres Cubas also did his best to hold Paraguay’s shape through midfield, but was regularly overwhelmed by the USA’s press.

There will be a lot for both sides to improve upon today. Let’s see if they can.

Here’s a bit more info about where to watch today’s Turkey v Paraguay match thanks to our friend Graham Ruthven, who sets the scene for us below.

Turkey have a point to prove after a shock opening defeat to Australia. Vincenzo Montella’s side struggled to create against a low block and could run into many of the same problems again if Paraguay are able to keep things tight at the back in the way they weren’t against the USA.

Paraguay were powerless to stop the USA running over them in Los Angeles, but have much more to offer if their qualification campaign is anything to go by. Anything less than a draw would all but end their hopes of making it through to the last 32.

Want more on today’s earlier Group D game between co-hosts USA and Australia? Our team in Seattle has you covered.

We’re already starting to see the shape of some other groups as match day two continues at the World Cup.

Mexico became the first nation to secure knock-out football after a 1-0 victory over South Korea in Group A.

Canada and Switzerland both recorded wins in Group B to draw level with each other on 4 points apiece.

Finally, Morocco edged past Scotland 1-0 to move to 4 points in Group C, with Brazil currently taking on Haiti to potentially join them there.

If following every game is simply too much for you, the wonderful fellas at Guardian Football Weekly are recording daily wraps for your pleasure – now also in video format!

Looking at the group’s permutations, both Turkey and Paraguay will now have Australia squarely in their sights after the Socceroos lost 2-0 to hosts USA earlier today.

A win for either team today will bring them level on points with Australia (3), though exactly where they’ll end up – second or third – will be decided by goal difference.

The USA are all but through to the round of 32 after their comprehensive win, sailing into their third and final group game on six comfy points. Here’s Alexander Abnos on the match:

As John Denver’s Country Roads blared over the Seattle Stadium PA, they celebrated history: a spot in the knockout round secured with a game to spare, two wins to start a World Cup for the first time since 1930, a big moment for a breakout star in goalscorer Alex Freeman, and the continuation of a journey that US Soccer hope will be transformative for the sport in their country.

“We built the victory in our attitude,” Mauricio Pochettino said. “Today, even if I am not American, after the game I was emotional … To connect with the people is what we wanted.”