The 2026 World Cup has already produced several early goals, with the fastest coming in the second minute of Paraguay’s match against Turkey — According to Todo Alicante, Matías Galarza scored a stunning strike from outside the box, beating Turkey’s goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir at the near post. The goal was the fastest of the tournament so far and dealt a severe blow to Turkey’s hopes of a comeback in the group stage.

Fastest Goals in World Cup History

The New York Post notes that the U.S. men’s team scored the second-fastest goal in their World Cup history during a match against Turkey. Auston Trusty converted a corner kick into a goal just two minutes in, marking his first international goal and contributing to the U.S. scoring in the first 10-plus minutes of three consecutive matches in the tournament. This goal ranked as the second-fastest in U.S. history, behind Clint Dempsey’s 30-second goal against Ghana in 2014.

Meanwhile, FotMob reported on Morocco’s Youcef Saibari scoring the earliest goal in the 2026 World Cup against Scotland; the goal came just after the match started and marked the earliest goal since 2022, when Alphonso Davies netted for Canada after 68 seconds. Saibari’s goal also made him the second African player to score in his first two World Cup appearances, after Mohamed Salah.

Own Goals and Early Setbacks

Own goals have also been a recurring theme in the early stages of the 2026 World Cup — According to SBS 뉴스, the U.S. scored their first two group stage wins thanks to own goals from opponents. In their match against Australia. An own goal by defender Cameron Burgess in the 11th minute led to a 2-0 victory; Similarly, Qatar earned their first-ever World Cup point in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland after an own goal by Miro Muheim in the 49th minute.

The U.S. team has already advanced to the knockout stage after securing two wins in the group stage. The New York Post reported that this is the first time in the modern era that the U.S. has won its first two group matches in a World Cup. The Americans are now aiming for the best-ever group stage finish in their history with a win or draw against Turkey.

Group Stage Drama and Tactics

Todo Alicante described the match between Paraguay and Turkey as a dramatic start to the group stage; Turkey, led by Arda Güler and Kenan Yildiz, dominated possession but struggled to break through Paraguay’s defensive setup. The 2-minute goal by Galarza completely shifted the momentum, leading to a 1-0 victory for Paraguay. The goal also marked the end of Turkey’s hopes of a strong group stage run, as they went on to draw with the U.S. and then lost to Japan in a 4-0 defeat, according to note.

In that Japan-Tunisia match. Commentator Keisuke Honda praised Daichi Kamada’s opening goal as “skillful,” leading to a 4-0 rout for Japan; this was particularly significant because Japan has historically struggled in their second group stage matches, managing only one win in seven previous tournaments. This time, however, their performance was described as “phoenix rising” after a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their opening match.

With early goals, tactical adjustments, and unexpected results shaping the 2026 World Cup, the group stage has already delivered drama and excitement. The fastest goal ever at this World Cup, scored just two minutes in, has already become a defining moment for Paraguay and a harsh reality check for Turkey.