2026 FIFA World Cup Group D: Schedule, Standings & Prediction
Group D is the most watched group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The United States open their home tournament against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Australia and Turkey complete the four-team group. This is the first World Cup on US soil since 1994 and Mauricio Pochettino’s team carry the weight of an entire nation determined to make a deep run on home ground.
Turkey return to the World Cup for the first time since finishing third in 2002, ending a 24-year absence after dramatic playoff wins over Romania and Kosovo. Paraguay end a 16-year drought after Gustavo Alfaro rebuilt their identity from scratch.
Australia arrive for their seventh World Cup and sixth in a row targeting another Round of 16 run. Every team in Group D has a story to tell and something real to play for.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group D Teams
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Rank (Apr 2026) | WC Appearances | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA (Host) | CONCACAF | #16 | 11th | 1 |
| Australia | AFC | #27 | 7th (6th consecutive) | 2 |
| Paraguay | CONMEBOL | #40 | 9th | 3 |
| Turkey | UEFA | #22 | 3rd (first since 2002) | 4 |
Group D Match Schedule 2026
All times are Eastern Time (ET). FOX and FS1 broadcast in English. Telemundo and Universo cover Spanish broadcasts. All matches stream on Peacock.
Matchday 1 (Friday, June 12)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| USA vs Paraguay | 9:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
Matchday 1 (Saturday, June 13)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Australia vs Turkey | 12:00 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
Matchday 2 (Friday, June 19)
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| USA vs Australia | 3:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Turkey vs Paraguay | 11:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
Matchday 3 (Thursday, June 25)
Note: Both matches kick off simultaneously
| Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey vs USA | 10:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
| Paraguay vs Australia | 10:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
The USA vs Paraguay opener on June 12 sets the tone for the entire group. The June 25 final matchday with Turkey vs USA and Paraguay vs Australia kicking off at the same time will decide who goes through and who goes home.
World Cup Group D Standings
Standings update after June 12, 2026.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA (H) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Australia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Paraguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Turkey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Top 2 teams advance automatically to the Round of 32
- Best 8 third-place teams across all 12 groups also advance
- 4 points almost guarantees third-place advancement; 3 points can work with a strong goal difference
Tiebreaker order: Goal difference > Goals scored > Head-to-head points > Head-to-head goal difference > Head-to-head goals scored > Fair play score > FIFA ranking
Venue Guide: Where Group D Matches are Played
| Match | Stadium | City | Capacity | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA vs Paraguay | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 70,240 | Indoor, climate controlled. USA home opener |
| Australia vs Turkey | BC Place | Vancouver | 54,500 | Only Group D match outside the USA |
| USA vs Australia | Lumen Field | Seattle | 68,740 | USA’s Pacific Northwest home crowd |
| Turkey vs Paraguay | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara | 68,500 | Late West Coast kickoff |
| Turkey vs USA | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 70,240 | Decisive group finale for first place |
| Paraguay vs Australia | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara | 68,500 | Both teams fight for survival |
The USA play two of three group matches at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. That indoor climate-controlled venue gives them a significant advantage. The only Group D match outside the United States is Australia vs Turkey at BC Place in Vancouver on June 13.
How to Watch Group D Matches
| Country | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| USA | FOX, FS1 | Peacock, FOX Sports App |
| UK | ITV, BBC | ITVX, BBC iPlayer |
| Canada | CTV, TSN | CTV.ca |
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| Mexico | Televisa, TV Azteca | ViX |
Group D Team Analysis and Preview
USA (Host Nation)
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino (appointed May 2024)
Pochettino went unbeaten in five straight matches at the end of 2025 including a 5-1 win over Uruguay. Then March 2026 arrived and reality hit hard. The USA lost to Belgium 5-2 and Portugal 2-0 in back-to-back Atlanta friendlies. Seven goals conceded and two scored. The defensive fragility against high-press teams is now an open question heading into June.
Key players:
- Christian Pulisic (AC Milan): Captain with 82 caps. Has not scored in 8 straight USMNT appearances or for his club in 2026. The USA need him to find form before June 12
- Tyler Adams (Bournemouth): The midfield captain and most important player. Missed March camp with a quad injury. His fitness by June 12 is the single biggest question for the USA
- Weston McKennie (Juventus): Scored against Belgium in March. Versatile and aggressive with 12 international goals
- Matt Freese (NYCFC): First-choice goalkeeper after 12 straight starts in 2025
- Folarin Balogun (Monaco): Main striker option
- Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen): Attacking midfielder in strong form
World Cup record: 11 appearances.
Best finish: 3rd place (1930). Best modern era: Quarter-finals (2002).
Last appearance: 2022 Round of 16, lost to the Netherlands.
Australia
Manager: Tony Popovic (appointed September 2024)
Graham Arnold resigned after a shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain in qualifying. Tony Popovic replaced him and delivered direct qualification. Australia’s first automatic berth since 2014. He builds disciplined defensive structures and demands elite fitness from every player. The Socceroos arrive for their sixth consecutive World Cup with genuine knockout stage ambition.
Key players:
- Mathew Ryan (Levante, Spain): Captain entering his fourth World Cup. Excelling in La Liga in 2025-26, preventing more goals than Jan Oblak and Unai Simon this season
- Harry Souttar (Leicester City): Commanding center-back and a constant aerial threat at set pieces
- Nestory Irankunda (Watford): 19-year-old forward considered Australia’s most exciting young talent. Scored two stunning goals in back-to-back Championship games this season
- Jackson Irvine: Experienced central midfielder and key leadership figure
- Martin Boyle (Hibernian): Pacy forward who gives Australia a direct attacking option
World Cup record: 7 appearances.
Best finish: Round of 16 (2006, 2022). Beat Denmark and Tunisia in 2022 before losing to Argentina 2-1.
Paraguay
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro (Argentine, appointed 2024)
Alfaro previously managed Ecuador at the 2022 World Cup where they beat host Qatar in the opening match. He ended Paraguay’s 16-year World Cup absence by guiding them to 6th in CONMEBOL qualifying. Organized, hard to beat and motivated by years of hurt, Paraguay are capable of upsetting any opponent in Group D on their day.
Key players:
- Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United): Tireless pressing midfielder who never stops running. One of the few Paraguayan players competing at elite European level every week
- Julio Enciso (Brighton): Creative young forward with 4 goals in 29 caps. Technically gifted with a powerful long-range shot. Their most dangerous attacking weapon
- Antonio Sanabria (Real Betis): Main striker and primary goal threat
- Gustavo Gomez: Captain and commanding center-back who organizes everything at the back
- Diego Gomez (Brighton): Up-and-coming midfielder with a big future
World Cup record: 9 appearances. Best finish: Quarter-finals (1954, 1958, 2010).
Last appearance: 2010 where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Spain.
Turkey
Manager: Vincenzo Montella (Italian, appointed September 2023)
Montella transformed a struggling Turkish side into a consistent European force. He guided them to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, promoted them to UEFA Nations League A for the first time in Turkish history, and delivered their first World Cup since 2002.
Turkey beat Romania 1-0 in the playoff semi-final and Kosovo 1-0 in the final on March 31. Kerem Akturkoglu scored the only goal in Pristina in the 53rd minute. This is the most talented Turkish squad in a generation.
Key players:
- Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan): Captain and the midfield brain of the team. One of the best deep-lying playmakers in Serie A
- Arda Guler (Real Madrid): 21-year-old attacking midfielder with a wicked left foot and six international goals. Ranked among the top 10 attacking midfielders in the world. The most exciting player in Group D
- Kenan Yildiz (Juventus): Dynamic left winger and emerging superstar. 20 years old and already a regular at Juventus. Assisted the Kosovo winner
- Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce): Wide forward who scored the decisive qualifier against Kosovo
- Merih Demiral: Experienced center-back who anchors the Turkish defense
World Cup record: 3 appearances (1954, 2002, 2026).
Best finish: 3rd place (2002) when they beat South Korea in the third-place play-off.
Head-to-Head Records
| Matchup | Record | Last Result | World Cup H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA vs Paraguay | USA dominant | USA 2-1 Paraguay (Nov 2025) | 1 WC meeting (2010 R16, 0-0 aet, USA lost on pens) |
| USA vs Australia | USA dominant | USA 2-1 Australia (Oct 2025) | 2 WC meetings, USA won both |
| USA vs Turkey | Mixed | Turkey 2-1 USA (2025 friendly) | 0 |
| Australia vs Paraguay | Mixed | No recent result | 0 |
| Australia vs Turkey | Australia slight edge | Australia 1-0 Turkey (2010) | 0 |
| Paraguay vs Turkey | Even | 0-0 draw (1995 friendly) | 0 |
Turkey beat the USA 2-1 in a 2025 friendly, their only previous meeting. June 2026 marks the first ever competitive meeting between Turkey and the USA, Turkey and Paraguay, and Paraguay and Australia at a World Cup.
Why Group D is Interesting
- USA host their first World Cup since 1994 with genuine knockout ambitions under Pochettino
- Turkey return after 24 years with the most exciting young attacking duo in the group in Guler and Yildiz
- Paraguay end 16 years away from the World Cup stage
- USA’s back-to-back March defeats to Belgium and Portugal created real pre-tournament concern
- Turkey beat the USA 2-1 in a 2025 friendly showing they can cause a major upset on home soil
2026 World Cup Group D Predictions
- Matchday 1: USA 2-0 Paraguay. Turkey 2-1 Australia.
- Matchday 2: USA 2-1 Australia. Turkey 1-1 Paraguay.
- Matchday 3: Turkey 1-2 USA. Paraguay 1-0 Australia.
Our Final Predicted Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 9 | Advance |
| 2 | Turkey | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | Advance |
| 3 | Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Australia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 0 | Eliminated |
USA win the group. Turkey advance as runners-up on goal difference over Paraguay. Both Turkey and Paraguay finish on 4 points making the Matchday 3 results absolutely decisive.
- 4 points: almost guaranteed advance to Round of 32
- 3 points: possible with a strong goal difference
- 1-2 points: very unlikely to advance
Group D Road to the Round of 32
| Finish | Next Match | Date | Venue | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Round of 32 | July 1 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | Best 3rd place from Groups B/E/F/I/J |
| 2nd | Round of 32 | July 3 | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | Group G runner-up |
USA as group winner play at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on July 1. Turkey as runner-up travel to Dallas on July 3 to face the Group G runner-up. Group G consists of Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group D FAQs
What teams are in World Cup Group D?
Group D includes the United States (host), Australia, Paraguay and Turkey. Turkey confirmed their spot on March 31, 2026 by beating Kosovo 1-0 in the UEFA Playoff Path C final.
When does Group D play?
Group D runs from June 12 to June 25, 2026. The USA open against Paraguay at 9:00 PM ET on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Who is favored to win Group D?
The USA enter as hosts and clear favorites. Turkey are the most dangerous dark horse with Guler and Yildiz capable of beating anyone on their day. Australia and Paraguay are fighting for any points they can take.
When was Turkey last at the World Cup?
Turkey last appeared at the 2002 World Cup where they finished third. The 2026 tournament marks their return after a 24-year absence.
When was Paraguay last at the World Cup?
Paraguay last appeared at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where they reached the quarter-finals. The 2026 tournament marks their return after a 16-year absence.
Has the USA hosted the World Cup before?
Yes. The USA hosted the 1994 World Cup and reached the Round of 16. The 2026 tournament marks their return as co-host alongside Canada and Mexico.
Group D runs from June 12 to June 25 and every match matters. The USA carry the hope of a home nation. Turkey carry the excitement of a generation. Paraguay and Australia carry the motivation of teams with nothing to lose.
The final standings stay uncertain until Turkey vs USA and Paraguay vs Australia kick off simultaneously at 10:00 PM ET on June 25. One of the most compelling groups of the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup ends with a double header that could go any way.
