FIFA World Cup 2026: Paraguay's Matias Galarza scores fastest goal of the tournament against Turkiye
Paraguay midfielder Matias Galarza set the 2026 FIFA World Cup ablaze on Saturday, smashing home the fastest goal of the tournament so far in a high-stakes Group D encounter that saw South Americans edge out Türkiye 1-0, simultaneously knocking the Turkish side out of the World Cup.The 24-year-old T
By Toi Sports Desk
Paraguay midfielder Matias Galarza set the 2026 FIFA World Cup ablaze on Saturday, smashing home the fastest goal of the tournament so far in a high-stakes Group D encounter that saw South Americans edge out Türkiye 1-0, simultaneously knocking the Turkish side out of the World Cup.The 24-year-old Talleres midfielder (currently on loan at MLS outfit Atlanta United) needed just 64 seconds to script history at San Francisco.
Having missed Paraguay’s opening fixture, Galarza was handed a golden opportunity in the starting line-up and wasted no time making it count.
Capitalising on a lightning-fast early attack, he unleashed a ferocious, low left-footed rocket into the bottom corner to give his side a dream start.
Galarza’s blink-and-miss strike eclipsed the previous tournament record set just hours earlier by Morocco’s Ismael Saibari, who had netted after 70 seconds against Scotland.Galarza's dramatic opening act didn’t stop there.
Just two minutes after finding the back of the net, the goal-hero found himself in the referee’s book, receiving a yellow card for a reckless, mistimed challenge.However, the real drama unfolded just before halftime, carving out another historic milestone for this tournament.
Paraguay's star midfielder Miguel Almirón was shown a straight red card under FIFA's brand-new, highly controversial "Prestianni Rule."During a heated verbal altercation with Türkiye’s Mert Müldür, Almirón covered his mouth with his hand while speaking.
Following a swift VAR review, referee Iván Barton brandished a direct red card, making Almirón the first player in football history to be sent off for the offence.
The rule, introduced just ahead of the tournament to curb hidden discriminatory abuse dictates that the mere act of obscuring one's mouth during a confrontation carries a presumption of guilt and an automatic dismissal.Despite playing the entire second half with 10 men, Paraguay held onto their precious 1-0 advantage.
The result leaves Türkiye bottom of Group D with zero points, packing their bags for an early exit, while Paraguay’s knockout dreams remain very much alive.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.
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