2026 FIFA World Cup: Group D Preview
June 24, 2026 · David Gómez
This article previews Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring host nation USA, Australia, Paraguay, and Türkiye. It details the schedule, key players, World Cup history, and expectations for each team.
Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises thrilling encounters as the host nation USA, Australia, Paraguay, and Türkiye battle for supremacy. The top two teams from each group, along with the top eight third-place finishers, will advance to the knockout phase. This marks a significant change as the tournament expands to 48 teams, taking place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Group D Schedule:
- June 12 - 9 pm ET: USA vs. Paraguay | Los Angeles, California
- June 13 - 12 am ET: Australia vs. Türkiye | Vancouver, British Columbia
- June 19 - 3 pm ET: USA vs. Australia | Seattle, Washington
- June 19 - 11 pm ET: Türkiye vs. Paraguay | Santa Clara, California
- June 25 - 10 pm ET: Türkiye vs. USA | Los Angeles, California
- June 25 - 10 pm ET: Paraguay vs. Australia | Santa Clara, California
United States: The USMNT will host the tournament for the second time and enter as favorites in Group D. Coach Mauricio Pochettino leads a squad often described as the "Golden Generation," featuring stars like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. They aim to surpass their best modern era finish, the quarterfinals in 2002.
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Paraguay: Ranked 40th, Paraguay returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2010. Under coach Gustavo Alfaro, they rely on veterans like Miguel Almirón and emerging talents such as Diego Gómez. A strong start against the USA could boost their chances of advancing.
Australia: The Socceroos, ranked 27th, have consistently reached the World Cup since 2006. With coach Tony Popovic, they aspire to match their Round of 16 achievements in 2006 and 2022. Key players include Aiden O'Neill and legendary goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Türkiye: Türkiye, ranked 22nd, breaks a 24-year drought by qualifying for the 2026 tournament. Known as a "dark horse," they boast talents like Arda Güler and captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu. They aim to replicate their 2002 World Cup success, where they finished third.
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