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Paraguay looks set to be without one of its key players for its World Cup campaign after midfielder Julio Enciso suffered an injury in a warm-up match just days before the tournament begins.
The 22-year-old was forced off during Paraguay's 4-0 victory over Nicaragua on Friday after going down while attempting to control the ball in the 22nd minute. Enciso left the pitch on a stretcher and appeared visibly distressed.
The injury is a major setback for Paraguay, which shares Group D with Türkiye at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to media reports, Enciso could be sidelined for two to three weeks, making him unlikely to feature against Türkiye.
Paraguay has not yet released a detailed medical report on the midfielder's condition, but early estimates suggest his recovery could extend into the latter stages of the group phase.
If the reported timeline proves accurate, Enciso may only return in time for Paraguay's final group-stage match against Australia.
Enciso heads into the tournament after an impressive season with French club Strasbourg, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists in 42 appearances across all competitions.
He is one of Paraguay's most valuable players alongside Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez, with both players carrying a market value of €25 million ($28.8 million), according to Transfermarkt.
Türkiye and Paraguay are set to meet in their second Group D match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 20.
The game will be played at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with kick-off scheduled for 3 a.m. GMT.
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