Socceroos prepare for crucial World Cup group game against Paraguay

By Kwame Ofori — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Socceroos face Paraguay in final group stage match

The Socceroos are set to conclude their 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage campaign with a match against Paraguay in San Francisco. The game is critical for Australia’s progression in the tournament, with a win or a draw securing their spot in the Round of 32. Kick-off is scheduled for 12pm AEST, which is 11:30am ACST and 10am AWST across Australia.

Fans have been building anticipation for the match, with traditional marches to the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The atmosphere is expected to be vibrant as supporters fill the allocated seats in the stadium. The importance of this fixture is heightened by the tournament’s head-to-head rule, which has a significant impact on group standings.

One notable absence for the Socceroos in today’s match will be Jacob Italiano, who is out. Coach Tony Popovic has made two surprising selections in previous games during this tournament, with varied outcomes. This third selection is anticipated to be the most crucial for the team’s advancement.

Qualification scenarios for Australia

The most straightforward path for the Socceroos to advance to the Round of 32 is to either win or draw against Paraguay. This result would ensure they finish ahead of Paraguay in Group D due to goal difference. The USA has already secured the top spot in the group, having beaten both the Socceroos and Paraguay, making it impossible for Australia to finish first.

Should the Socceroos lose, their qualification is still possible, though it introduces more uncertainty. Eight of the twelve third-placed teams will also qualify for the Round of 32. Currently, the Socceroos are in second place in their group, meaning they are not yet listed on the third-placed teams’ table. If they drop to third, they would appear on this table and would likely still be in a good position to qualify among the top eight.

A significant loss, specifically by four clear goals (e.g., 4-0, 5-1, 6-2), would result in the Socceroos being knocked out of the tournament entirely. However, confirmation of their qualification would not be immediate and would depend on the outcomes of other group stage matches played concurrently. The new format of the tournament, featuring 48 teams in the Round of 32, necessitates all final group games to be played simultaneously.

The match against Paraguay represents the first competitive encounter between the two nations, although they have previously played five friendly matches. The historical connection between Australia and Paraguay dates back to 1893, with the establishment of the ‘New Australia’ settlement in Paraguay by Australian colonists. This historical link adds an interesting layer to the sporting contest.

In other ongoing World Cup matches, Sweden and Japan were tied 1-1 after 65 minutes, with Anthony Elanga scoring for Sweden. Earlier, Japan had taken a 1-0 lead through Daizen Maeda. Tunisia managed to score against the Netherlands, with Hazem Mastouri finding the net, making the score 2-1 to the Netherlands after 54 minutes. The Netherlands later extended their lead to 3-1 through Jan Paul van Hecke. These results highlight the competitive nature of the group stage across the tournament.