World Cup Record Broken.
Matías Galarza Sets New FIFA World Cup Record with 64-Second Goal for Paraguay.
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Key Points
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Galarza’s record goal came with additional recognition: he won the “Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match” award for Paraguay’s Group D win over Turkey.
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The goal’s buildup and finish were specific: Galarza struck left-footed from outside the area into the bottom-right corner, credited to a Julio Enciso assist (and beat goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir with a powerful low strike).
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Paraguay’s red card detail: Miguel Almirón was dismissed for covering his mouth during a confrontation with Turkey’s Mert Muldur, with the incident occurring in first-half stoppage time and VAR confirming it as the first instance of the newly introduced rule at the World Cup.
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Although Saibari lost the overall fastest-goal record to Galarza, he still holds the World Cup mark for the fastest goal by an Arab player—surpassing the previous benchmark set by Hakim Ziyech (who scored against Canada in 2022).
Paraguay's Matías Galarza scored after just 64 seconds against Turkey on June 19, setting the fastest goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup The Tribune. The strike came from outside the area — a left-footed low shot into the bottom-right corner off a Julio Enciso assist — and proved to be the only goal in a 1-0 win that kept Paraguay alive in Group D Taylorville Daily News.
The record had stood for just five hours. Morocco's Ismael Saibari had set it that same day, scoring against Scotland at the 71-second mark Al Jazeera. Galarza immediately snatched it away, capping one of the most unusual days in World Cup history.
Two Records Broken in a Single Five-Hour Window
Earlier on June 19, Saibari's 71-second finish against Scotland in Boston made history. The goal came from a sharp setup inside the penalty area and drew a crowd of 64,146 Al Jazeera. It was also the fastest goal ever scored by an Arab player at a World Cup, surpassing Hakim Ziyech's mark from the 2022 tournament.
Then Galarza struck in California. He pounced on a turnover and fired from 25 meters out, beating goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır before Turkey's defense could recover The Tribune. Saibari kept his Arab-player record, but the overall 2026 crown now belongs to Paraguay. The "double-break" of the same record on the same day has no precedent in World Cup history.
Turkey Dominated the Ball but Never Found a Goal
The early shock forced Turkey into a desperate, high-pressing game. It did not work. Turkey held 79% possession in the second half and took 32 total shots — and still could not score The Big Lead. Coach Vincenzo Montella said afterward: "More possession led to no goal at all."
Turkey had already lost their opener 2-0 to Australia. With two straight losses, they were mathematically eliminated before their final group match against the United States NDTV Profit. The result also guaranteed that the US would finish first in Group D, regardless of that final game.
Almirón's Red Card Makes World Cup Disciplinary History
In first-half stoppage time, Paraguay's Miguel Almirón covered his mouth during a confrontation with Turkey's Mert Müldür. Referee Iván Barton reviewed the incident on VAR and issued a straight red card Sportsnet. It was the first time FIFA's newly introduced "Transparency Rule" had ever been applied at a World Cup.
The rule was introduced by IFAB in April 2026. It requires a red card when a player covers their mouth during an on-field confrontation, making it impossible to detect abusive or discriminatory language FanSided. FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended it bluntly: "If you have nothing to hide, you don't cover your mouth when you say something." Critics called the rule "draconian" and said it punishes a natural instinct for privacy Sportsnet.
Paraguay Survive With 10 Men, Galarza Wins Player of the Match
Almirón's dismissal left Paraguay a man down for the entire second half. They held on. Turkey's 32 shots came to nothing as Paraguay defended their lead with a disciplined low block Hooligan Soccer. Galarza won the "Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match" award for his performance.
Paraguay had been thrashed 4-1 by the United States in their opener. This win moved them into a strong position to reach the Round of 32 Taylorville Daily News. One obstacle remains: Almirón will miss their next match against Australia, serving an automatic suspension. Galarza, meanwhile, reflected simply: "God wanted this to happen for Paraguay more than ever before" Onmanorama.
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