By Eskender Tamrat@eskeFussball

World Cup: German-born superstar Yıldız starts for Turkey against Paraguay

Turkey and Paraguay will hope to revive their chances of qualification to the knockout stages in California.

Ferdi Limani/Getty Images

Turkey and Paraguay hope to recover from their disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup when they meet at Levi's Stadium. Vincenzo Montella’s side were ineffective in their defeat to Australia, while Paraguay conceded four goals to co-hosts the United States.

Former FC Bayern youth player Kenan Yıldız only played the second-half against Australia, but the Turkish star will now feature from the start as he returns to full fitness. Yıldız is among the five players in Turkey’s squad who were born in Germany, like his captain and former HSV and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu.

Meanwhile, Hoffenheim’s center-back Ozan Kabak and Eintracht Frankfurt’s sensation Can Uzun will hope for their first minutes of the tournament off the bench. Former Bundesliga players Çağlar Söyüncü, Kaan Ayhan, and Salih Özcan are also on the bench for Turkey, while ex-Hertha defender Omar Alderete starts for Paraguay.

Confirmed Turkey vs. Paraguay Lineups

Turkey: Çakır; Müldür, Demiral, Bardakcı, Kadıoğlu; Yüksek, Çalhanoğlu ©; Yıldız, Arda Güler, Akgün; Aktürkoğlu

Paraguay: Gill; Cáceres, Gustavo Gómez ©, Alderete, Alonso; Diego Gómez, Galarza; Cubas, Almirón; Pitta, Enciso