Paraguay and Australia clash for Round of 32 spot in San Francisco

Paraguay and Australia will meet in San Francisco on Thursday with a berth in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on the line. The Group D showdown at Levi's Stadium carries high stakes for both sides, who still control their own fate after an unexpected turn of events in the group.

Group D dynamics shift

Before the tournament, many fans and experts expected Türkiye to set the pace in Group D. Instead, it was the USA who became the first team to book their place in the knockout stages. Paraguay and Australia now find themselves in a winner-takes-most scenario: victory in their head-to-head meeting on Thursday would be enough for either to secure a place in the Round of 32, while the losers would need results elsewhere to go their way to avoid elimination.

Australia's confidence and growth

Australia coach Tony Popovic expressed confidence in his team's preparation and mindset ahead of the crucial match. “I’m very confident that the boys are well prepared, excited for the opportunity,” Popovic said at his pre-match press conference. “We’re in this position because we deserve to be here with a game to go and a chance to get to the knockout stages.”

The Socceroos coach highlighted the progress his team has made throughout the tournament. A victory would mark only the third time Australia has reached the knockout phase of a World Cup in their history. “The boys are learning from every match. I’m seeing them grow as young men, I’m seeing them grow as players. I’m seeing them mature and I’m seeing them enjoying the greatest challenge of all, which is the World Cup. It doesn’t get greater than this,” Popovic added.

Scouting Paraguay

Popovic acknowledged the challenge Paraguay presents, noting that his side has studied the South Americans closely. “We know what Paraguay are all about. We understand they bring a real toughness and they know how to get a result,” he said. “It may seem like unorganised chaos at times, but they’re very organised. They know what they’re doing in each moment of the game, in each phase, and we’ve been preparing the players for that.”

Popovic also praised Paraguay's manager, Gustavo Alfaro, calling him “a fantastic manager with a lot of experience.”

Paraguay's underdog ambition

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro acknowledged his team's underdog status against Australia but expressed satisfaction that they remain in contention. “Our main goal was to arrive at the third matchday with a chance of qualifying and we made it,” Alfaro said.

Alfaro also emphasized the historical significance of a win over the Socceroos. “A win against Australia would be the first time Paraguay has ever won two matches in a World Cup group stage. We need to approach this match as if it’s the last one of the tournament. If we do our job, we earn the right to play one more game. It’s a final for us,” he said.

What's at stake

For the winners, qualification for the knockout stages as group runners-up would be secured. The losers would face an anxious wait, relying on results from other groups to advance. Both teams are aware that Thursday's match could define their World Cup campaign, and neither side intends to leave anything on the field.