World Cup | 2026-06-26 02:00
Levi's Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
📊 Match Insights
In the final round of Group D, Paraguay and Australia will compete for direct advancement to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup on Friday at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
Both Paraguay, sitting in third place, and Australia, in second, have accumulated three points from their initial two group matches. With Turkey's elimination, both teams are assured a top-three finish, although neither can claim the top spot.
Paraguay experienced a heavy 4-1 defeat to the USA in their opening match but bounced back with a 1-0 victory over Turkey on June 20. This win was particularly notable as Miguel Almiron received a red card just before halftime, yet Paraguay was already ahead thanks to Matias Galarza's early goal in the second minute.
Manager Gustavo Alfaro must secure a win on Friday, as the first tiebreaker is head-to-head records and the second is goal difference. A draw would mean Australia advances, given their superior goal difference of zero compared to Paraguay's.
Any victory for Paraguay could be nerve-wracking, as 10 of their last 12 wins have been by a single goal. However, they have won five of their last seven matches.
The team that finishes second in the group is set to face the runners-up from Group G, which may include Egypt, Iran, Belgium, or New Zealand.
Historically, Paraguay has never won two group matches in a single tournament, although they have managed to avoid defeat in their last six World Cup final group games.
📈 League Table (Position)
| # | Team | Pts | P | W-D-L | GD | FORM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
USA
|
6 | 2 | 2-0-0 | 5 | W W |
| 2 |
Australia
|
3 | 2 | 1-0-1 | 0 | L W |
| 3 |
Paraguay
|
3 | 2 | 1-0-1 | -2 | W L |
| 4 |
Türkiye
|
0 | 2 | 0-0-2 | -3 | L L |
Chance for playoffs
📉 Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Paraguay
W
L
W
L
W
Australia
L
W
D
L
W
🏥 Injuries & absences
Paraguay
M. Almirón
- Red Card
Australia
J. Italiano
- Injury
