Paraguay's World Cup win over Turkey overshadowed by rule breaches

Paraguay beat Turkey 1-0 in the second round of the 2026 World Cup, but the match drew attention for a different reason: the team violated nearly every new rule introduced for the tournament and was punished repeatedly. The game became a showcase for how strictly the updated regulations are being enforced on the pitch.

One of the penalties went against Miguel Almiron, who was shown a red card after covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent under the so-called "Vinicius rule." Paraguay also conceded a corner to Turkey because its goalkeeper delayed restarting play by holding the ball for more than eight seconds.

In another incident, Paraguay was forced to play with 10 men for one minute after a stoppage caused by medical treatment for a player. Despite the victory, Paraguayan media heavily criticized the team, with one comment saying, "It's crazy. They looked like they went out to play without knowing the updated rules, they were only missing holding the ball with their hands."

Turkish journalist Pirat Gunayer also mocked both sides, saying Paraguay had "violated every new rule possible" and showing "a complete lack of familiarity with the new rules." He added that Turkey's failure to score against such an opponent was itself hard to explain.