Group D Preview
The United States host their first World Cup match in 32 years, however Group D affords no simple nights for Mauricio Pochettino’s facet.
Turkey’s gifted attacking era, a practical and skilled Paraguay facet and a hard-to-beat Australia make this one of many extra aggressive teams within the match.
All 4 groups will consider they will qualify when the group stage begins on June 12.
World Cup Group D fixtures and the place to observe
| Fixture | Date | Kick-off (all UK BST) | Venue | The place to Watch |
| USA v Paraguay | June 13 | 02:00 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | BBC and iPlayer |
| Australia v Turkey | June 14 | 05:00 | BC Place, Vancouver | BBC and iPlayer |
| USA v Australia | June 19 | 20:00 | Lumen Discipline, Seattle | ITV and ITVX |
| Turkey v Paraguay | June 20 | 05:00 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | ITV and ITVX |
| Turkey v USA | June 26 | 03:00 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | BBC and iPlayer |
| Paraguay v Australia | June 26 | 03:00 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | BBC and iPlayer |
Right here, we check out the groups intimately.
United States: 2026 World Cup preview, star participant, prediction
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
Qualification: CONCACAF (co-hosts)
Finest World Cup: Third place (1930)
America enter this summer time’s match on dwelling soil and with extra expectation than at any level in latest reminiscence.
Mauricio Pochettino has constructed a squad with real high quality throughout the pitch. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in midfield, a again three providing stability, and Christian Pulisic main the assault as captain.
The squad is younger in components, with a median age of slightly below 27, and half the group has World Cup expertise from Qatar in 2022.
The house ambiance throughout Los Angeles and Seattle ought to work of their favour. Taking part in in entrance of a sold-out SoFi Stadium for the opener in opposition to Paraguay can be in contrast to something most of those gamers have skilled earlier than, and Pochettino can be hoping that vitality carries the facet moderately than weighing on them.
Questions stay over the goalkeeping place, which has been debated all through qualification, and whether or not the squad can cope when opponents sit deep and invite them to interrupt them down.
USA star participant: Christian Pulisic carries the burden
Pulisic arrives because the face of US soccer.
The AC Milan ahead is likely one of the finest American gamers of his era and brings high quality in large areas in addition to by way of the center.
When he’s at his finest, the USA are a special proposition. All the things runs by way of him.
Prediction: USA to high the group
Dwelling benefit, squad depth and familiarity with the circumstances make the USA the favourites right here. Turkey will push them, however Pochettino’s facet have sufficient to come back by way of.
Turkey: 2026 World Cup preview, star participant, prediction
Coach: Vincenzo Montella
Qualification: UEFA playoffs (beat Romania and Kosovo)
Finest World Cup: Third place (2002)
Turkey return to the World Cup for the primary time in 24 years and accomplish that with arguably essentially the most thrilling attacking contingent within the group.
Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz weren’t even born the final time Turkey performed at a World Cup. Each are actually key figures in Vincenzo Montella’s facet, and the prospect of the Actual Madrid and Juventus forwards working collectively at a serious match for the primary time on the worldwide stage is likely one of the most intriguing storylines in Group D.
Qualification was not simple. Turkey completed second behind Spain of their UEFA group after which wanted two slim 1-0 wins over Romania and Kosovo within the playoffs to safe their place.
The priority is defensively. The again line might be uncovered when opponents press the midfield pivot, and any slip in focus in opposition to the USA within the ultimate group recreation might value them. However on the best evening, Turkey have the expertise to beat anybody on this group.
Turkey star participant: Arda Guler is the one to observe
Guler is essentially the most naturally gifted participant on this squad and the one who might make the distinction in tight matches.
The Actual Madrid playmaker has the power to unlock defences with a single move or a second of particular person brilliance.
He’s nonetheless solely 20 years outdated, and this World Cup may very well be the match that asserts him to a worldwide viewers.
Prediction: Turkey to qualify in second place
The attacking high quality is there. If Montella can hold the facet defensively sound, Turkey ought to edge out Paraguay and Australia to affix the USA within the knockout rounds.
Paraguay: 2026 World Cup preview, star participant, prediction
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Qualification: CONMEBOL qualifiers
Finest World Cup: Quarter-finals (2010)
Paraguay’s return to the World Cup is a big second. They missed three consecutive tournaments between 2014 and 2022, a painful absence for a nation that reached the quarter-finals as not too long ago as 2010.
Paraguay scored simply 14 objectives in 18 CONMEBOL matches, the fewest of any computerized qualifier from South America.
However they conceded solely 10, and crucially gained the matches that mattered most, together with spectacular victories over Brazil and Argentina late within the marketing campaign.
The inventive burden falls on Miguel Almiron and the youthful Diego Gomez, with Julio Enciso offering an unpredictable possibility in assault. If these three can discover their finest kind collectively, Paraguay are able to inflicting issues for any facet on this group.
Paraguay star participant: Miguel Almiron because the inventive pressure
Almiron continues to be the heartbeat of this Paraguay facet.
Again in MLS with Atlanta United after his years at Newcastle, the 31-year-old brings expertise and creativity.
He scored six objectives and added 4 assists in MLS final season and stays the more than likely supply of one thing surprising for Paraguay.
Prediction: Paraguay can threaten for second place
A inflexible construction and the standard of Almiron and firm give Paraguay a real probability.
They’ll make life tough for each staff on this group and needs to be concentrating on no less than 4 factors.
Australia: 2026 World Cup preview, star participant, prediction
Coach: Tony Popovic
Qualification: AFC qualifiers
Finest World Cup: Spherical of 16 (2006, 2022)
Australia arrive for a sixth consecutive World Cup realizing they might want to exceed expectations to progress.
Tony Popovic changed Graham Arnold halfway by way of a tough begin to qualification in 2024 and has since constructed a extra organised and resilient facet, ending second behind Japan within the AFC third spherical to safe their place in North America.
The Socceroos misplaced simply as soon as throughout your entire AFC qualifying course of, which speaks to the standard Popovic has instilled.
His method is pragmatic. Australia play a again three, press aggressively with out the ball and look to use the counter-attack by way of tempo in large areas.
Nestory Irankunda, the 20-year-old Watford ahead, is likely one of the most electrical younger gamers within the squad.
The absence of a generational expertise, the type that Tim Cahill or Harry Kewell supplied in 2006, makes the duty more durable. However the squad is skilled, well-organised and tough to beat, which provides them a platform to work from.
Australia star participant: Nestory Irankunda might be the game-changer
Irankunda is Australia’s most harmful and unpredictable attacking possibility.
The Watford ahead is fast, direct and fearless, and Popovic faces a key resolution over whether or not to begin him or deploy him from the bench as a game-changer in opposition to tiring legs.
If he’s given the liberty to run at defenders, he may very well be one of many stars of the group stage.
Prediction: A tough path for Australia
Australia will make issues laborious for all three opponents, however the hole in particular person high quality in opposition to the USA and Turkey might show to be an excessive amount of. Progress from the group can be a big achievement.
Predicted World Cup 2026 Group D desk
| Wins | Attracts | Losses | Factors | |
| USA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Turkey | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Australia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
