The Socceroos face Paraguay on Friday 26 June at 12pm AEST in their final group stage match of the 2026 World Cup, held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The match will be played at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Australia currently sits second in Group D with three points, level with Paraguay but ahead on goal difference. The USA has already secured top spot with six points, while Turkey is eliminated with zero points. A win or draw for Australia would guarantee progression to the last 32, while a loss could still see them advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
How to Watch the Socceroos World Cup Games in Australia
Every match of the 2026 World Cup is broadcast live on SBS and SBS Viceland, and available for streaming on SBS On Demand. For the Socceroos group stage, kick-off times range from 5am to 2pm AEST, making it relatively convenient for Australian viewers. The Guardian is also live-blogging all 104 matches, with reporter Jack Snape on the ground covering the Socceroos as part of a 15-strong team of correspondents across Canada, Mexico, and the US. Daily podcasts from the Football Weekly team and Guardian Australia socials provide additional analysis.
Socceroos World Cup Schedule and Group Standings
Group D standings after two matches: USA (2 games, GD +5, 6 points), Australia (2 games, GD 0, 3 points), Paraguay (2 games, GD -2, 3 points), Turkey (2 games, GD -3, 0 points). The top two teams in each group advance to the last 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams. Australia's potential last 32 matches depend on their final position. If they finish second in Group D, they would face the second-placed team from Group G on 4 July at 4am AEST in Dallas. If they advance as a third-placed team, they could face the winner of Group I or K on 1 or 4 July.
Live Sites Across Australia to Watch World Cup Games
Federation Square in Melbourne will host Socceroos matches after a brief ban was lifted. Other live sites include: New South Wales – Parramatta Square, Tumbalong Park, Allianz Stadium, and multiple regional venues such as Jamberoo Pub with its Johnny Warren Museum; Victoria – Federation Square, AAMI Park, Marvel Stadium, and regional sites in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Traralgon, and Shepparton; Adelaide – The Drive; Perth – Northbridge Piazza; Brisbane – Southbank; Darwin – Darwin Football Stadium.
Socceroos Squad and Notable Changes
Coach Tony Popovic announced the final 26-man squad after a 1-0 loss to Mexico in their penultimate pre-tournament friendly. Notable inclusions are uncapped strikers Cristian Volpato, who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia, and Tete Yengi. Omitted players include Kye Rowles, Brandon Borello, and Martin Boyle. Veterans Mathew Leckie, Harry Souttar, Maty Ryan, Jackson Irvine, and Aziz Behich remain, while Mo Touré and Nestory Irankunda are expected to feature up front.
2022 World Cup Performance and Other Stories
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Socceroos reached the round of 16, losing 1-2 to eventual champions Argentina. The team returned home as heroes after pushing Lionel Messi's side to the brink. For 2026, off-pitch stories include inflated ticket and transport costs, concerns about unsafe heat conditions and environmental impact, and the use of ICE as a key part of World Cup security, which has raised human rights concerns. Iran has moved their base from Arizona to Mexico amid tensions with the US.
