Match Preview: Paraguay v Australia | FIFA World Cup 2026™

Australia take on Paraguay with it all to play for in the final game of Group D in the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

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Both teams come into this game with three points apiece. The USA have already qualified from Group D as winners. A draw or win for the Socceroos will see them finish second in the group and take on the runner-up of Group G in Arlington, Texas, while a loss could still see them through to the Round of 32 as one of eight third-place qualifiers.

Read our preview of the big game below.

The Squad

Mathew Leckie will be unavailable for the game after picking up a hamstring injury in the loss against USA. Furthermore, Jacob Italiano has been ruled out due to an adductor injury.

Italiano started at right-back in both previous games in the tournament while Leckie was a starter against the United States.

"We still have to determine [if there will be further changes], but we're happy with the squad," Popovic said in the pre-match press conference.

"We're happy with all the players. It's a wonderful experience for us so far, in particular the US game. The players responded extremely well in the second half and we're growing day by day, even quicker than I anticipated. So I'm very confident that the boys are well prepared."

Permutations

Second and third place are currently up for grabs in Group D.

The United States qualified as group winners after their victory over Australia last match. This is because the first tie-breaker to determine placement within each group is head-to-head, and - as USA have defeated both Paraguay and Australia - they cannot be caught. Türkiye have been eliminated from the tournament as bottom of the group after their loss to Paraguay.

In this tournament, the top two teams in each group advance to the Round of 32, as well as the eight best third-place finishers across all groups. This means that both Australia and Paraguay have a good chance of qualifying even with a defeat. Goal difference plays a large part in determining the eight teams that will advance from the 12 groups at the tournament.

If the Socceroos win or draw, their next opponent is simple: they will play the Runner Up of Group G in Arlington, Texas. As it stands, that could be any one of Egypt, Belgium, IR Iran or New Zealand in a wide open group.

A defeat means that they will have to hope that they are one of the best eight third-place finishers, and then face a complicated scenario: they could play either the winner of Group E (Germany), Group I (France or Norway), or Group K (TBD).

Despite a draw giving both teams the best chance of qualifying, Popovic said that there were no thoughts of playing it safe.

"We're going into the game tomorrow to win. I expect they'll be doing the same," he explained.

Last Game

Australia were defeated 2-0 by the United States in the second game of Group D. The host nation scored two goals in the first-half and, despite a much-improved second-half performance, the Socceroos were not able to find the goals back that they needed.

The likes of Nestory Irankunda, Connor Metcalfe and Cristian Volpato were introduced after the break and helped change the momentum of the game.

"Overall we've had three very good halves of football," Popovic said, reflecting on the game. 

"We had one bad half of football and we got punished for that. And that's the World Cup and that's the detail of the World Cup.

"We played nine players that played the first match. Only two didn't play. So we're more disappointed in the performance, not so much in who played and who didn't play. And we improved that performance in the second half, which really pleases us. The players that came on made an impact, and whoever starts tomorrow, I know can build a strong foundation - whoever comes on can come on and finish what we've started."

The Opponent

Paraguay are the lowest ranked team in Group D but that doesn't mean that they don't contain plenty of challenges for the Socceroos to overcome.

They are a defensively sturdy and hard-working team that will be difficult to break down. The Socceroos defensive line will have to be aware of their pace up front and technical ability in one-on-one situations.

Their win against Türkiye was built off the back of that stubbornness in defence. Despite being reduced to ten players in first-half stoppage time, they did not relinquish their one-goal advantage that they gained in the second minute of the game.

The player that was sent off, and will subsequently be suspended for the game against the Socceroos, was star man Miguel Almiron. He is best known for his six-year stint at Newcastle United in the Premier League and now plies his trade in the MLS for Atlanta United. The 32-year-old creative midfielder and winger will be a huge loss for Paraguay.

The South American side is coached by Argentine Gustavo Alfaro. He has previously managed the likes of Boca Juniors at club level, and Ecuador and Costa Rica at international level.

Forward Fernando Romero said during the week that the game was "life or death" for Paraguay as a defeat may eliminate them from the tournament.

FIFA World Rankings

Australia: 26
Paraguay: 37

Head-to-head

Played: 5
Wins: 2
Draws: 3
Losses: 0

Form Guide

Australia form guide: L-W-D-L-W

Paraguay form guide: W-L-W-L-W

What They Said

Tony Popovic

We look forward to that challenge. It's everything we expect in a World Cup. Paraguay are very strong. They're here because they deserve to be here. They're at the same stage as us, where they are fighting to go through to the knockout stages. We have a lot of respect for them, but we're also very confident in our ability.

Alessandro Circati

Just like any other game, every game you come across different attackers. Everyone's a little bit different in their own way. You just got to adapt to that and play to your strengths and maybe their weaknesses.

Paul Okon Sr

We don't expect too many surprises. They're a typical South American team. They have very technical players, but on the other hand, they also like to play in unorganised chaos where they have a backs to the wall mentality. It's going to be a fight. At this part of the World Cup, every moment in the game, every small detail can be compelling, it can be so important. Paraguay, thoughout their World Cup qualifying campaign - and the frist two games, what we've seen - they haven't played any different.

Paul Okon-Engstler

We'll treat it as if it's any other World Cup game. Every team at this level is very strong. I think they'll be a great opposition to play against, like the USA and like Türkiye. We're just focused on training as best as possible, our processes, and that gives us the best chance of going into that game against Paraguay with a winning mentality.

Jackson Irvine

It is a totally different type of game. We all know that, from games we've played against South American teams in the past. Watching Paraguay against Türkiye, there was a sequence towards the end of the game that sums up their style of football - about five minutes to go, they won the ball high up the pitch and had the chance to go to the corner. The guy just whips the cross in to the back stick with three guys and they go on to try and score with ten men, when they're 1-0 up. We know what kind of game it's going to be. Incredible individual quality - expect the unexpected is probably the best way to put it.

Jason Geria

We know a point is going to get us second place, that's for all ot see. At the same time, we know the threat Paraguay pose. They were valiant, the way they fought against Türkiye, having ten men for a half. They'll do whatever it takes to get a result and it will be the same against us. It will be a difficult game.

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