World Cup 2026 – Group D Overview: USA to Face Turkey, Australia, and Paraguay

World Cup 2026 – Group D Overview: Hosts USA to Face Turkey, Australia, and Paraguay in Open Group
Kieran Jackson, Thu, June 18, 2026 at 8:53 PM UTC.
Co-hosts United States are positioned as top seeds and favorites in Group D of the World Cup 2026, which features Turkey, Australia, and Paraguay. The anticipation is high, and the other contenders are eager for a chance to progress. Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of the United States, aims to lead the team to success in their second home tournament, following their round of 16 finish in 1994. The team will benefit from strong support from local fans on the west coast, even as their chances of winning the championship appear slim.
The group is competitive, with only 18 FIFA ranking spots separating Turkey (22), Australia (27), and Paraguay (40). Paraguay's strong qualifying record indicates they will not be easily defeated, having demonstrated the second-best defense in their qualifiers. Australia proved their mettle by reaching the knockout stage in the last World Cup hosted in Qatar, while Turkey gained momentum by advancing through the European play-offs in March.
The match schedule for Group D is as follows (all times BST):
- 13 June, 2am: USA 4-1 Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- 14 June, 5am: Australia 2-0 Turkey – BC Place, Vancouver
- 19 June, 8pm: USA vs Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle
- 20 June, 4am: Turkey vs Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
- 26 June, 3am: Turkey vs USA – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- 26 June, 3am: Paraguay vs Australia – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
The United States enters the tournament with high expectations from fans and management. Pochettino has been preparing for this tournament since taking over from Gregg Berhalter two years ago. Following mixed results in the previous year and a disappointing Gold Cup final loss to Mexico, they seek to establish consistency. The squad, captained by Tim Ream of Charlotte FC, has recently played friendly matches against Group D opponents.
The minimum requirement for the US team is to advance to the knockout stage, though they aim to progress further. Key players such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Folarin Balogun are crucial for the team's success.
Paraguay arrives at the World Cup after an impressive qualifying campaign, having not participated since 2010. Guided by coach Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay has a strong defensive strategy and has performed well against top teams in their qualifying matches. Their squad features key players such as Miguel Almiron and rising star Julio Enciso.
The stage is set for an open and competitive Group D in the World Cup 2026.