San Francisco, June 20: Paraguayan midfielder Matias Galarza made headlines on Saturday by scoring a remarkable goal just 64 seconds into the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Turkey. This stunning achievement took place at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, marking the fastest goal in the tournament’s history.
The 24-year-old Galarza missed Paraguay’s opening match but was included in the starting lineup against Turkey. He seized the opportunity without hesitation, firing a powerful left-footed shot that found the back of the net, putting Paraguay ahead 1-0.
Previously, Morocco’s Ismail Saibari held the record for the fastest goal, scoring in 70 seconds against Scotland. Galarza surpassed this record by six seconds, achieving a significant milestone. However, just two minutes later, he received a yellow card for a foul.
In their first match of the tournament, Paraguay faced a tough 1-4 defeat against the United States. This match was crucial for both teams as they aimed to advance to the knockout stage. Turkey had also lost their opening match, falling 0-2 to Australia. Thanks to Galarza’s early goal, Paraguay started strong against Turkey.
Paraguay managed to maintain their lead until halftime, bolstered by a solid defense. Despite several attempts from Turkey to score in the first half, they were unable to breach Paraguay’s defense. In Group D, the United States has already secured their place in the Round of 32 by defeating Australia 2-0.
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