United States
The host seed. Co-hosting a home World Cup, the USMNT play all three group games on American soil under Mauricio Pochettino, led by Christian Pulisic and a Europe-based core. Read our full USA squad guide.
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Group Guide · 2026 World Cup
World Cup 2026 Group D
Group D is built around co-host the United States and completed by Paraguay, Australia and a gifted Turkiye. The USMNT open against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium under Mauricio Pochettino, with the pressure of a home World Cup on Christian Pulisic's shoulders. Turkiye arrive with one of the most exciting young generations in the tournament, Australia bring their familiar resilience, and Paraguay return after a long absence. This is the full fixture list with venues and dates, the qualification picture, and a prediction for who reaches the new Round of 32.
D
Group
4
Teams
12 Jun
USA vs Paraguay
2
Qualify (Plus Best Thirds)
The short version. Group D is co-host USA, Paraguay, Australia and Turkiye. It opens with the United States vs Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 12 June, with games spread across Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. The USA and Turkiye are the favourites for the top two, and the top two go through automatically with the best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also in the mix.
The Four Teams
Who is in Group D
A co-host carrying a nation's expectations, a young European side full of flair, a battle-hardened Asian regular and a South American returnee. Here is the Group D field.
Turkiye
The gifted young side. Back at a World Cup for the first time since finishing third in 2002, Vincenzo Montella's Turkiye are built around Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz alongside Hakan Calhanoglu. Read our Turkiye guide.
Australia
The knockout battlers. Coached by Tony Popovic, the Socceroos are organised, fit and experienced at grinding out results, with a knack for reaching the last 16 when written off. Read our Australia guide.
Paraguay
The South American returnees. Back at the World Cup for the first time since 2010, Gustavo Alfaro's Paraguay are well-drilled and hard to break down after a strong CONMEBOL qualifying run. Read our Paraguay guide.
The Fixtures
Group D fixtures, venues and dates
Six Group D matches across three matchdays, mostly in the western United States with one game in Canada. The USA play at SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) and Lumen Field (Seattle), with the rest at Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area) and BC Place (Vancouver). The two final-round games kick off at the same time. Times below are US Eastern.
Matchday 1 · 12 to 13 June
United States vs Paraguay
Fri 12 Jun 2026
Australia vs Turkiye
Sat 13 Jun 2026
Matchday 2 · 19 June
United States vs Australia
Fri 19 Jun 2026
Turkiye vs Paraguay
Fri 19 Jun 2026
Matchday 3 · 25 June · Simultaneous kickoff
Turkiye vs United States
Thu 25 Jun 2026
Paraguay vs Australia
Thu 25 Jun 2026
For the full picture of all 104 games and kickoff times in your own time zone, use the WorldCuply.com match schedule. Co-host USA's path is covered in detail in our USA squad guide.
The Format
How qualification works in Group D
The 2026 World Cup is the first with 48 teams in 12 groups of four. That changes how a group plays out:
- Top two go through. The winner and runner-up of Group D qualify automatically for the new Round of 32, the extra knockout round added for 2026.
- Best thirds matter. The eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also advance. That means a strong third place in Group D, with points and goal difference, can still be enough.
- Home advantage is real. The United States play all three group games on home soil, with two at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, a meaningful edge in front of partisan crowds.
- The final round is decisive. The matchday-three games kick off simultaneously to keep things fair, so Turkiye vs USA in Los Angeles and Paraguay vs Australia in the San Francisco Bay Area will be settled side by side.
The Prediction
Who advances from Group D
A balanced group with two favourites and two sides who can spring a surprise. Here is how we see it:
- 1st: United States. Home advantage, two games at SoFi Stadium and Pochettino's organisation should carry the hosts to top spot, even if the pressure is immense.
- 2nd: Turkiye. The most talented non-host side in the group. If Guler and Yildiz click, Turkiye have the ceiling to take second and even challenge for first.
- 3rd: Australia. The Socceroos' resilience and tournament experience make them the likeliest of the two outsiders to grab a best-third place.
- 4th: Paraguay. Solid and well-coached under Alfaro, but they may find goals hard to come by against this group's stronger sides.
The USA and Turkiye are favourites for the top two, but Australia have a habit of upsetting the odds and the final-round games could decide everything. Follow it live with the schedule and the Match-Day Notifier.
Questions & Answers
Frequently asked questions
Which teams are in Group D at the 2026 World Cup?
Group D at the 2026 World Cup contains co-host United States, Paraguay, Australia and Turkiye. The USA were placed in Group D as one of the three host seeds, alongside Mexico in Group A and Canada in Group B.
When does Group D start at the 2026 World Cup?
Group D begins on Friday 12 June 2026 with the United States against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Australia face Turkiye the following day, 13 June, at BC Place in Vancouver.
Where are the Group D matches played?
Group D is played across the western United States and one venue in Canada. The fixtures are staged at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Lumen Field in Seattle, Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area and BC Place in Vancouver.
What are the full Group D fixtures?
Matchday one: USA vs Paraguay (12 June, Los Angeles) and Australia vs Turkiye (13 June, Vancouver). Matchday two: USA vs Australia (19 June, Seattle) and Turkiye vs Paraguay (19 June, San Francisco Bay Area). Matchday three: Turkiye vs USA (25 June, Los Angeles) and Paraguay vs Australia (25 June, San Francisco Bay Area).
Who is the favourite to win Group D?
Co-host the United States and Turkiye are the two favourites for Group D. The USA have home advantage and a talented squad under Mauricio Pochettino led by Christian Pulisic, while Turkiye bring an exciting young generation around Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz.
How many teams advance from Group D?
The top two teams in Group D advance to the Round of 32 automatically. Because the 2026 World Cup has 48 teams in 12 groups, the eight best third-placed teams across all groups also qualify, so a strong third place can still be enough to go through.
Does the USA play Group D at home?
Yes. The United States play all three group games in American venues, opening against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, then facing Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle, and finishing against Turkiye back at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
When did Paraguay last play at a World Cup?
Paraguay are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals. Coached by Gustavo Alfaro, they earned a direct CONMEBOL place by finishing sixth in South American qualifying.
How good are Turkiye at the 2026 World Cup?
Turkiye are one of the most exciting outsiders at the tournament, back at a World Cup for the first time since finishing third in 2002. Vincenzo Montella's side is built around young talents Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz alongside Hakan Calhanoglu.
Who will qualify from Group D?
Our prediction is that the United States and Turkiye take the top two places, with the host nation edging first on home advantage and Turkiye second on the strength of their young attacking talent. Australia and Paraguay are expected to fight for third and a possible best-third spot.
Keep Reading
More 2026 World Cup coverage
Group D is one of 12 groups at the 2026 World Cup. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
USA Squad
The host nation's squad under Mauricio Pochettino, Christian Pulisic and the pressure of a home World Cup in Group D.
Read the USA guide ›Turkiye Squad
Montella's gifted young side, Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, and a return to the World Cup after two decades.
Read the Turkiye guide ›Group C
Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland, with the full Group C fixtures, venues and prediction.
Read the Group C guide ›Match Schedule
All 104 fixtures across 16 host cities, with kickoff times you can filter to your team and time zone.
Open the schedule ›Sources
Where this page comes from
This guide was hand-written from the following reporting and reference pages, used to confirm the Group D teams, fixtures, venues and dates:
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