Turkey’s World Cup 2026 campaign ended in bitter disappointment on the night it lost 1-0 to Paraguay, eight days after the tournament began. The defeat eliminated Turkey from any chance of advancing out of the group stage. Vincenzo Montella’s team still has one match left against the United States, but it will only be a formality before the squad returns home.
Veteran commentator Ahmet Cakar reacted furiously and demanded that Montella be dismissed immediately. “From this moment on, nothing in Turkish football will ever be the same,” he said. “We said we would reach the final, and in the end we did not even score a goal. I would send Vincenzo Montella home to Italy today, on the first flight. But the important thing is what happens from here. This is trauma, serious trauma.”
Another former Turkey coach, Senol Gunes, took a more measured tone. Gunes, who led Turkey to third place at the 2002 World Cup, said Montella had tried to do his best and should answer for the failure. “The players are sad, but there is nothing to do,” he said. “We need to learn lessons and do better. There is no need to cut off heads or blame anyone, but to find the right path with different and new ideas.”
The players were visibly devastated after the loss and elimination, with some crying. The pressure and expectations clearly weighed on them, and during the match Krem Akturkoglu was involved in a confrontation with a Turkish fan who shouted at him from the stands. Gunes also said supporters were entitled to expect more, but added that the team must now work harder to turn its talent into results.
