Türkiye midfielder Arda Güler has apologised to supporters following his country’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup, describing the team’s performances as unacceptable after two consecutive defeats ended their campaign before the final group-stage match.
The Turkish side’s exit was confirmed after a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Group D, a result that followed an opening 2-0 loss to Australia. The back-to-back setbacks left Türkiye without a point and unable to progress to the knockout stages.
Coach Vincenzo Montella and his players were eliminated before their final fixture against the United States, making Türkiye only the second team to be officially knocked out of the tournament after Haiti’s exit from Group C.
The United States has already secured qualification from Group D after recording victories over both Paraguay and Australia, leaving the remaining teams to battle for position behind the group leaders.
Güler Issues Apology to Supporters
Speaking after the defeat to Paraguay, Güler expressed disappointment with both the results and the level of performance shown by the squad.
He said: “We want to apologize (to the Turkish people), we feel ashamed. We all play for top-class clubs, and we should perform much better in this tournament. We haven’t scored any goals in two matches, and that is unacceptable.”
The comments reflected the frustration surrounding a campaign in which Türkiye struggled to convert chances despite controlling large portions of both matches.
The team entered the tournament with hopes of making a significant impact but instead found themselves eliminated after just two games, having failed to find the net once.
Possession and Chances Failed to Deliver Results
One of the most striking aspects of Türkiye’s campaign has been the contrast between their attacking statistics and their results.
Against Australia, the Turkish side controlled 63% of possession and registered 28 shots but still suffered a 2-0 defeat. Following that match, Montella appeared optimistic that a repeat of such attacking numbers would eventually bring success.
However, a similar pattern emerged against Paraguay.
Türkiye dominated possession even more heavily, controlling 78% of the ball and producing 33 attempts on goal. Despite their territorial advantage and attacking pressure, they were again unable to score.
Paraguay spent the entire second half with a numerical disadvantage after Miguel Almirón was sent off in first-half stoppage time, receiving a red card in the 45+3 minute.
Even with an extra player for the remainder of the contest, Türkiye could not break through.
More Than 60 Shots, No Goals
The figures from the opening two matches highlight the scale of Türkiye’s attacking struggles.
Across the defeats to Australia and Paraguay, the team produced more than 60 shots but failed to score a single goal. The inability to convert opportunities ultimately proved decisive in their early departure from the competition.
The outcome is particularly disappointing given the presence of highly regarded players such as Güler and Kenan Yıldız, both of whom were expected to play leading roles during the tournament.
Instead, Türkiye leave the competition having failed to register a goal while collecting no points from their first two matches.
Final Match Offers Little More Than Pride
Although their fate has already been sealed, Türkiye still have one match remaining in the tournament.
They will face the United States on Friday in their final Group D fixture. The Americans enter the match having already secured top spot in the group after victories over Paraguay and Australia.
The current standings see the United States leading with six points, while Australia and Paraguay each have three. Türkiye remain bottom without a point and can no longer alter their qualification prospects.
For Güler and his teammates, the final match now represents an opportunity to restore some pride after a World Cup campaign that fell far short of expectations and ended much earlier than many had anticipated.
