2026 FIFA World Cup Group D: Schedule, Standings & Prediction
World Cup Group D roared into life at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The host United States opened with a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, while Australia stunned Turkey 2-0 in Vancouver. Both winners sit on three points, leaving Turkey and Paraguay needing a quick response. This is the first World Cup on US soil since 1994, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side could not have made a stronger start.
Turkey are back at a World Cup for the first time since finishing third in 2002, while Paraguay end a 16-year absence. Australia are at their seventh World Cup, and sixth in a row, chasing another Round of 16 run.
The top two advance automatically to the Round of 32, with the best eight third-placed teams across all 12 groups also progressing.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group D Teams
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Rank (June 2026) | WC Appearances | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA (Host) | CONCACAF | #17 | 11th | 1 |
| Australia | AFC | #27 | 7th (6th consecutive) | 2 |
| Paraguay | CONMEBOL | #41 | 9th | 3 |
| Turkey | UEFA | #22 | 3rd (first since 2002) | 4 |
Group D Matchday 1 Results
USA 4-1 Paraguay. Folarin Balogun scored twice in a blistering first half and Gio Reyna added a stoppage-time fourth as the hosts cruised at SoFi Stadium, with captain Christian Pulisic outstanding. Mauricio pulled one back for Paraguay, but the USMNT’s opening statement points to a deep run.
Australia 2-0 Turkey. Tony Popovic’s Socceroos sprang the surprise of the group, with young forward Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe on target in Vancouver. Turkey’s much-fancied attack misfired, leaving them with ground to make up.
World Cup Group D Standings
Updated after Matchday 1 (June 13, 2026).
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA (H) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 3 |
| 2 | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Turkey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 4 | Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
The USA lead on goal difference from Australia, with Turkey and Paraguay still searching for their first points. The top two advance automatically to the Round of 32, while the best eight third-placed teams across all 12 groups also progress. Tiebreaker order: goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head, then fair-play score and FIFA ranking.
Group D Match Schedule 2026
All times are Eastern Time (ET). FOX and FS1 broadcast in English, Telemundo and Universo in Spanish, with every match streaming on Peacock.
Matchday 1 (June 12-13) – Full Time
| Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| USA vs Paraguay | 4-1 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
| Australia vs Turkey | 2-0 | 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 at 10:00 PM ET.
| 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 |
Matchday 2 is huge: USA vs Australia in Seattle pits the two winners against each other for top spot, while Turkey vs Paraguay becomes a must-win for both. The group is settled on June 25, when Turkey vs USA and Paraguay vs Australia kick off at the same time.
Group D Venue Guide
| Match | Stadium | City | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA vs Paraguay | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 70,240 |
| Australia vs Turkey | BC Place | Vancouver | 54,500 |
| USA vs Australia | Lumen Field | Seattle | 68,740 |
| Turkey vs Paraguay | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara | 68,500 |
| Turkey vs USA | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 70,240 |
| Paraguay vs Australia | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara | 68,500 |
The USA play two of three group games at SoFi Stadium, an indoor, climate-controlled venue that hands them a real home advantage.
The only Group D match outside the United States was Australia vs Turkey at BC Place in Vancouver.
How to Watch World Cup 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. After a worrying spring, the hosts answered emphatically with a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay, suggesting the attacking talent has clicked at the right time. A first home World Cup since 1994 has begun with belief.
Key players: captain Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), who ran the show; two-goal striker Folarin Balogun (Monaco); midfield leader Tyler Adams (Bournemouth); Weston McKennie (Juventus); goalkeeper Matt Freese (NYCFC); and Gio Reyna, who capped the win with a stunning late goal.
Best modern finish: 2022 Round of 16.
Australia
Manager: Tony Popovic. The Socceroos made the early statement of the group, beating Turkey 2-0 with the discipline and set-piece threat that are Popovic’s trademarks. At their sixth straight World Cup, knockout ambitions look realistic.
Key players: captain and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (Levante); centre-back Harry Souttar (Leicester City); teenage forward Nestory Irankunda, who scored the opener; midfielder Connor Metcalfe, on the scoresheet too; and leader Jackson Irvine.
Best finish: Round of 16 (2006, 2022).
Paraguay
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro. The Argentine ended Paraguay’s 16-year wait and built a hard-to-beat side, but they were overwhelmed in the opener and must regroup fast. Their compact, counter-attacking style can still trouble anyone on the day.
Key players: Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United); creative forward Julio Enciso (Brighton); striker Antonio Sanabria (Real Betis); captain and centre-back Gustavo Gomez; and midfielder Diego Gomez (Brighton).
Best finish: quarter-finals (1958, 2010).
Turkey
Manager: Vincenzo Montella. The Italian revived Turkey, reaching the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and ending a 24-year World Cup wait via playoff wins over Romania and Kosovo. But a flat 2-0 loss to Australia means their gifted squad now has to chase the group.
Key players: captain Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan); Real Madrid playmaker Arda Guler; Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz; forward Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce); and centre-back Merih Demiral. The talent is elite, but Turkey must rediscover their edge against Paraguay.
Best finish: third place (2002).
Head-to-Head Records
| Matchup | 2026 / Recent | Notable History |
|---|---|---|
| USA vs Paraguay | USA won 4-1 (2026) | 2010 R16: USA lost on penalties (different opponents era) |
| Australia vs Turkey | Australia won 2-0 (2026) | First competitive meeting |
| USA vs Australia | USA 2-1 (Oct 2025) | USA won both prior WC meetings |
| USA vs Turkey | Turkey 2-1 (2025 friendly) | First competitive meeting June 25 |
| Turkey vs Paraguay | No recent meeting | First competitive meeting June 19 |
Matchday 1 reshaped the group: the USA confirmed their edge over Paraguay, while Australia’s win flipped the expected order with Turkey. The Turkey vs USA finale on June 25 will be a first competitive meeting between the nations.
2026 World Cup Group D Predictions
- Matchday 1 (result): USA 4-1 Paraguay. Australia 2-0 Turkey.
- Matchday 2 (prediction): USA 2-1 Australia. Turkey 2-1 Paraguay.
- Matchday 3 (prediction): Turkey 1-1 USA. Paraguay 0-2 Australia.
Final Predicted Standings
| Pos | Team | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 7 | Advance |
| 2 | Australia | 6 | Advance |
| 3 | Turkey | 4 | Third-place hopeful |
| 4 | Paraguay | 0 | Eliminated |
The USA and Australia are now firmly in control after their opening wins, and both look set to advance. Turkey’s quality should still see them recover into the third-place race, where four points is usually enough to reach the Round of 32 and three can work with a strong goal difference.
Group D Road to the Round of 32
| Finish | Date | Venue | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | July 1 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | Best 3rd place from Groups B, E, F, I or J |
| Runner-up | July 3 | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | Group G runner-up |
The Group D winner plays at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on July 1, while the runner-up travels to Dallas on July 3 to face the Group G runner-up. Group G features Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group D FAQs
What teams are in World Cup Group D?
Group D features the United States (host), Australia, Paraguay and Turkey. Turkey qualified on March 31, 2026 by beating Kosovo 1-0 in the UEFA playoff final.
What were the Group D Matchday 1 results?
USA 4-1 Paraguay and Australia 2-0 Turkey. The USA and Australia both won and lead the group on three points, with Turkey and Paraguay on zero.
When does Group D play?
Group D runs from June 12 to June 25, 2026. Matchday 2 is June 19 and Matchday 3 is June 25, when both final games kick off at the same time (10:00 PM ET).
Who is favourite to win Group D?
The hosts USA, who opened with a 4-1 win and lead on goal difference from Australia. Turkey, despite losing their opener, still have the talent to challenge.
When was Turkey last at the World Cup?
Turkey last appeared at the 2002 World Cup, where they finished third. The 2026 tournament ends 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 ends 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. In 2026 they are co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico.
World Cup Group D could hardly have started better for the co-hosts. The USA’s 4-1 win and Australia’s surprise victory over Turkey leave both on three points and in command, while Turkey and Paraguay must respond quickly.
The USA and Australia are favoured to advance, but the standings will not be settled until Turkey vs USA and Paraguay vs Australia kick off together on June 25.
