62 shots, zero goals: Turkey set an anti-record at the World Cup and was eliminated from the tournament.

The Turkish team ended its participation in the 2026 World Cup prematurely, suffering two sensational losses in just six days against Australia and Paraguay. Despite having a clear advantage in terms of playing time and a high expected goal difference of 3.5 xG, Turkey’s forwards failed to score a single goal against their opponents. Such a failure in two matches during the group stage is something that has never happened in World Cup history.

The team managed 62 shots, with 13 of them hitting the goal area. However, the ball stubbornly refused to enter the net. The crisis in finishing attacks became the decisive factor, leaving the “Half-Moon” team with no chance of advancing to the knockout stages.

This World Cup should have been a triumphant return for Turkey. After finishing third in the 2002 World Cup, Turkey hadn’t won a World Cup for five consecutive years. Expectations were high, but reality was harsh. Instead of celebrating football, fans saw a team stuck in statistical paradoxes, where dominance couldn’t be translated into goals.

The coaching staff will need to conduct a thorough analysis and completely re-engineer their attacking strategy. For Turkish football, this elimination isn’t just a sports failure; it’s a clear sign of systemic problems in training and decision-making in the penalty area. The 2026 World Cup will be remembered by Turkey not as a successful return, but as an historic anti-record in terms of results.