Turkey’s interior ministry has directed all provincial governors to cancel planned public screenings of the national team’s World Cup match against Paraguay, prompting municipalities across the country to dismantle giant outdoor screens. The match, scheduled for Saturday morning at 6am local time, was to be broadcast in parks and public squares in several cities, but the ministry’s directive, issued ahead of the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) this weekend, has forced local authorities to scrap the events. Turkish officials stated the measure aims to prevent noise pollution and increased traffic congestion from adversely affecting students sitting the exam.

Local authorities had initially planned the screenings to capitalise on widespread enthusiasm for Turkey’s first World Cup appearance since 2002, when the team finished third. The previous Group D match against Australia on 15 June was shown on giant screens in Istanbul and elsewhere, drawing large crowds that filled parks and an ancient amphitheatre in the southern province of Antalya. Following the ministry’s order, municipalities have complied, cancelling the outdoor broadcasts. The YKS is Turkey’s nationwide university entrance examination, taken annually by hundreds of thousands of students seeking admission to higher education institutions, and authorities in Ankara have framed the decision as a necessary step to safeguard the exam’s integrity.

The cancellation comes at a critical moment for Turkey’s World Cup campaign. After losing 2-0 to Australia in their opening match, the team faces a must-win situation against Paraguay to keep hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive, in a group that also includes co-hosts the United States. Football commands immense popularity in the country of 86 million, and the return to the tournament after a 24-year absence has generated significant public excitement. Yet the YKS exam represents a pivotal academic milestone, and Turkish officials judged that the risk of disruption from mass gatherings outweighed the benefits of communal viewing.

The match will still be broadcast on television, allowing fans to follow it privately. No further restrictions on public screenings have been announced for subsequent fixtures, but the directive establishes a precedent for balancing major sporting events with civic order during high-stakes national examinations. Turkey’s next match after Paraguay is against the United States, and the team’s progression in the tournament will likely determine whether similar measures are considered.