Australia faces Paraguay on Friday 26 June at 12pm AEST in a crucial Group D match at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The Socceroos currently sit second in the group with three points, level with Paraguay but ahead on goal difference. A win would secure progression to the knockout stage, while a draw or loss could leave Australia relying on other results.
How to watch the World Cup in Australia
Every match of the 2026 World Cup is broadcast live on SBS and SBS Viceland, with streaming available on SBS On Demand. The Guardian is live-blogging all 104 matches, with reporter Jack Snape covering the Socceroos on the ground as part of a 15-strong team of correspondents across Canada, Mexico, and the US. Guardian Australia also offers daily podcasts from the Football Weekly team.
Kick-off times for Socceroos group matches range from 5am to 2pm AEST. If Australia advances to the knockout stage, earlier start times are possible.
Socceroos squad and selection news
Coach Tony Popovic named a 26-man squad after a 1-0 loss to Mexico in their final warm-up match. Notable inclusions are uncapped strikers Cristian Volpato, who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia, and Tete Yengi, reflecting a youth-focused selection. Veterans Mathew Leckie, Harry Souttar, Maty Ryan, Jackson Irvine, and Aziz Behich retained their places, while Kye Rowles, Brandon Borello, and Martin Boyle were omitted. Mo Touré and Nestory Irankunda are expected to feature up front.
Group D standings and possible knockout matches
Group D sees the USA already qualified as group winners with six points. Australia and Paraguay both have three points, with Australia ahead on goal difference. Turkey is eliminated with zero points. The top two teams advance to the last 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams.
If Australia finishes second in Group D, they could face the winner of Group G on 4 July at 4am AEST in Dallas. If they progress as a best third-placed team, potential opponents include Germany on 30 June at 6.30am AEST in Boston or the winner of Group I on 1 July at 7am AEST in New York/New Jersey.
Live sites across Australia
Fans can watch the Socceroos on big screens at numerous live sites. In Melbourne, Federation Square returns as a venue after a brief ban. Other locations include:
- New South Wales: Parramatta Square, Tumbalong Park, Allianz Stadium, Blacktown Football Park, and regional venues like Jamberoo Pub (home to the Johnny Warren Museum).
- Victoria: Federation Square, AAMI Park, Marvel Stadium, and regional sites in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Traralgon, and Shepparton.
- Other states: The Drive in Adelaide, Northbridge Piazza in Perth, Southbank in Brisbane, and Darwin Football Stadium.
Tournament context and host nations
The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada – the first time three nations share hosting duties. There are 16 host cities: two in Canada, three in Mexico, and 11 in the US, divided into western, central, and eastern regions. This edition features an expanded 48-team format, with nine teams from Africa and Asia, 16 from Europe, one from Oceania, six from South America, and six from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean including the hosts.
Italy failed to qualify for the third consecutive World Cup. According to FIFA rankings, the USA is the top team in Group D at world No. 16, followed by Turkey (22), Australia (27), and Paraguay (40). The Guardian’s power rankings place Turkey 23rd, the USA 24th, Australia 28th, and Paraguay 32nd among qualified teams.
Australia’s last World Cup performance
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Socceroos reached the round of 16, losing 2-1 to eventual champions Argentina. The team returned home as heroes after pushing Lionel Messi’s side to the limit.
Off-pitch stories
Key issues include inflated ticket and transport costs, concerns about unsafe heat conditions and environmental impact, and the involvement of ICE in World Cup security, which has alarmed human rights groups. Iran moved their base from Arizona to Mexico amid tensions with the US.
