⚽ Turkey vs. Paraguay Prediction: World Cup Picks & Best Bets (June 19)
Defense could take center stage Friday at the San Francisco Bay Area Arena, and my Turkey vs. Paraguay prediction targets a low-scoring affair between two teams that opened the 2026 World Cup with defeats.
Paraguay will be desperate, but it comes into this encounter as a +300 underdog against a Turkey team (+100) loaded with creative talent. Paraguay, which is renowned for its defensive displays in qualifying, could be in danger of going home early, as our World Cup predictions focus on Turkey coming out on top when the action begins at 11 p.m. ET on FOX.
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⚽ Turkey vs. Paraguay predictions: Pick to win & player prop bets
See all of our experts' soccer picks across the best World Cup betting sites.
| 💰 Best bets | 📊 Best odds | ⚖️ Wager (units) |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey ML | +100 via bet365 | 1.5 units -> 1.5 units |
| Both teams to score: No | -125 via bet365 | 2 units -> 1.6 units |
| Turkey clean sheet: Yes | +137 via bet365 | 2 units -> 2.74 units |
⚽ Who will win Turkey vs. Paraguay?
It won't be pretty, but we're expecting Turkey to collect all three points. Despite its solid defense, Paraguay will likely continue to struggle in attack against a Turkey team expected to dominate possession and secure a narrow win.
Paraguay ground out impressive clean sheets in CONMEBOL qualifying, but the South American nation was woeful at both ends of the pitch during last weekend's 4-1 loss to the United States.
Turkey was similarly disappointing in its 2-0 defeat to Australia, but it features a healthy mix of players capable of influencing results and matching Paraguay's physical nature.
Score prediction: Turkey 1, Paraguay 0
💵 My best bet: Turkey clean sheet (+137)
Although Paraguay managed to score in its lopsided loss to the United States, the goal occurred when Gustavo Alfaro's squad was 3-0 down, and the game was virtually over. Paraguay lacks the attacking talent needed to break down Turkey, while the UEFA side possesses enough composure at the back to keep Friday's opponent quiet.
While Paraguay's identity revolves around defense, the focus will result in a quiet game in attack, regardless of the desperation that will surely set in as the match progresses.
🦶 Who will score in Turkey vs. Paraguay?
Follow all of our expert soccer betting analysis for the 2026 World Cup.
Hakan Calhanoglu, M, Turkey (+275)
Given the attacking woes in the last game and Paraguay's solid defense, the odds of Turkey scoring from open play don't look great. Instead, we're backing set-piece specialist Hakan Calhanoglu to score the decisive goal.
Along with being the team's designated penalty taker, Calhanoglu is one of the most lethal finishers from set pieces. Whether it's from 18 or 35 yards, goalkeepers need to be on their toes whenever he steps up. And since Paraguay can be overly physical, it won't come as a surprise if Turkey gets multiple set-piece opportunities around the penalty area.
Best Turkey vs. Paraguay goal-scorer pick: Hakan Calhanoglu (+275 via bet365)
🥅 Will both teams score in Turkey vs. Paraguay?
No, both teams won't score. Based on Paraguay's reserved approach and willingness to absorb pressure without many attacking threats, this game has "clean sheet" written all over it for Turkey.
Despite struggling against Australia, Turkey boasts a decent defense that shouldn't endure any issues containing a Paraguay team that scored the joint-fewest goals (14 goals in 18 games) of the teams that qualified from South America.
Both teams to score (BTTS) pick: No (-125 via bet365)
💡 How to bet on both teams to score (BTTS)
Our soccer expert Jeremy Vernon broke down how to bet BTTS at the World Cup with a full history and statistical analysis of the popular prop betting market across more than 7,000 matches.
📊 Turkey vs. Paraguay odds
We're tracking the latest World Cup odds and favorites to win this year's tournament.
📺 How to watch Turkey vs. Paraguay
- Date: Friday, June 19
- Kickoff: 11 p.m. ET
- Location: Levi's Stadium (San Francisco, California)
- TV: FOX
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