Paraguay pulled off one of the grittier results in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, beating Turkey 2-1 despite being reduced to ten men. Julio Enciso, the 22-year-old Strasbourg winger who has quickly become one of the tournament’s most watchable young players, was at the center of it all with his second assist of the competition.

After the final whistle, Enciso made it clear the win belonged to the entire squad, not just any individual performance.

A resilient performance against the odds

Enciso praised the collective effort of his teammates, highlighting the group’s mental toughness in competing shorthanded. He also took time to thank the fans whose support, by his account, played a real role in pushing the team through the difficult moments.

The assist was his second of the tournament. For a player who suffered an injury scare during a friendly against Nicaragua on June 5, the fact that he is contributing at this level is notable on its own.

Enciso’s rising trajectory

Enciso joined Brighton before BlueCo agreed to terms to sign him in August 2025. He is currently playing on loan at Strasbourg in Ligue 1, where he has continued to develop as both a creator and a goal threat.

Paraguay’s Group D schedule puts them alongside co-host USA and Australia.

What this means for the tournament picture

The 2-1 victory gives Paraguay a meaningful foothold in Group D. With matches against Australia and the United States still to come, the margin for error is thin.

Turkey, meanwhile, finds itself needing results in the remaining fixtures.

The 22-year-old’s post-match comments were focused entirely on his teammates and the collective spirit that got them through a challenging ninety minutes.