Many international media outlets have labeled Turkey as one of the biggest disappointments of World Cup 2026 after Vincenzo Montella’s side was eliminated following just two group-stage matches.
Turkey’s 0-1 defeat to Paraguay on June 20 brought their World Cup 2026 campaign to an unexpectedly early end. The result immediately became a major talking point across international media, as the European side had been widely considered a strong contender for a knockout-stage spot in Group D.
The Guardian described Turkey’s elimination as one of the tournament’s biggest surprises so far. Before the World Cup began, the European representatives carried significant expectations thanks to their talented young squad and impressive performances at Euro 2024. However, consecutive defeats to Australia and Paraguay quickly shattered those predictions.
The Australian called it one of the most remarkable stories of Matchday 8, highlighting how a team expected to challenge for qualification instead became the first side in Group D to lose all hope of advancing.
Reuters noted that Turkey’s collapse was particularly disappointing because the team had been viewed as a potential dark horse entering the tournament. Before the World Cup, the British news agency praised the country’s new generation of talent, including Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu. At the same time, Reuters had warned about Turkey’s inconsistency in major matches—a weakness that became painfully evident in the United States.
Cronkite News argued that Turkey’s opening defeat against Australia proved to be the turning point from which the team never recovered. Vincenzo Montella’s men entered their second match with no margin for error but delivered another disappointing performance against Paraguay.
One of the most frequently mentioned issues in international coverage was Turkey’s inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Analysis from Goal and several sports outlets in the United Kingdom and United States emphasized that Montella’s squad possessed superior individual quality compared to many teams in the group. Yet they consistently failed to convert possession and territorial dominance into goals.
After two matches, Turkey exited the tournament without scoring a single goal. The statistic has become the clearest symbol of the disappointment expressed by international media toward a team that many expected to make a significant impact in its first World Cup appearance in 24 years.
Adding to the attention surrounding the Paraguay match was the red card shown to Miguel Almirón. Reuters and numerous international outlets reported that the Paraguayan midfielder became the first player in World Cup history to be sent off for covering his mouth while arguing on the field under FIFA’s newly implemented regulations.
In the eyes of the global media, Turkey was never considered a weak team. That is precisely why their early elimination after two consecutive defeats has attracted so much attention. Once viewed as a dark horse capable of making a deep run, the men in red have instead become one of the biggest disappointments of the opening phase of World Cup 2026.
Sources: Znews
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