FIFA World Cup 2026 · Final Draw
GROUP D
5 December 2025 · Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
USA
Pot 1 · #16
Australia
Pot 2 · #27
Paraguay
Pot 3 · #40
Turkey
Pot 4 · #22
THE TIGHTEST GROUP
Group D.
The tightest group in the tournament.
On the fifth of December twenty twenty-five, at the Kennedy Center in Washington D C, the balls came out.
United States.
Australia.
Paraguay.
And Turkey.
Four teams.
Four confederations.
Twenty-four ranking places between top and bottom.
The narrowest spread of any group at this World Cup.
Group D · By the Numbers
Four teams. 24 places between them.
USA
FIFA #16
Co-host · Pochettino
Turkey
FIFA #22
Montella · 1st since '02
Australia
FIFA #27
Popovic · 6th straight
Paraguay
FIFA #40
Alfaro · 1st since 2010
Here they are by the numbers.
United States.
FIFA ranked sixteenth.
Co-host.
Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine, on the touchline.
Turkey.
Ranked twenty-second.
Vincenzo Montella, the Italian, in charge.
Back at a World Cup after twenty-four years.
Australia.
Ranked twenty-seventh.
Tony Popovic leading the Socceroos.
Sixth straight World Cup.
Paraguay.
Ranked fortieth.
Gustavo Alfaro at the helm.
Their first World Cup since twenty ten.
Group D · The Hosts
United States
FIFA #16
Group D · The Hosts
UNITED STATES
Co-hosts of this World Cup. Two of three group games at SoFi Stadium. 4-2-3-1 high press. Pulisic creative focal, Balogun the 9, McKennie engine, Adams anchor.
2 OF 3
Games in LA
0W / 2
vs BEL & POR
SEMIS
Target since 1930
Head Coach
Mauricio Pochettino
⚠ Pulisic on 8-game goal drought · Adams MCL fitness
Let's start with the hosts.
United States.
FIFA ranked sixteenth.
Mauricio Pochettino, ex P S G, ex Tottenham, ex Chelsea, in charge since September twenty twenty-four.
Co-hosts of this World Cup.
Two of three group games in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium.
A four-two-three-one.
High press.
Pulisic as the creative focal point.
Balogun the number nine.
McKennie the box-to-box engine.
Adams the anchor.
The strength is the depth of midfield and the deepest squad ever assembled by the U S A.
The weakness is recent form.
Lost two-five to Belgium.
Lost zero-two to Portugal.
Both in March twenty twenty-six.
Pulisic on an eight-game international goal drought.
The target is the semi-finals.
The U S A have not been there since nineteen thirty.
USA · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Americans to watch
1/4
USA · CAPTAIN AMERICA
Christian Pulisic
27
Age
AC Milan
Club
84
Caps
32
Goals
★ America's all-time leading scorer. 8 Serie A goals in 23 apps for Milan. But 8 straight USMNT games without a goal — the defining tension.
Christian Pulisic.
Captain America.
Twenty-seven years old.
A C Milan in Serie A. Eighty-four caps.
Thirty-two goals.
America's all-time leading scorer.
Eight Serie A goals in twenty-three appearances this season.
But eight straight U S M N T games without a goal.
The defining tension of this team's tournament.
USA · NUMBER 9
Folarin Balogun
24
Age
AS Monaco
Club
25
Caps
8
Goals
★ Scored in 8 consecutive Ligue 1 matches into the World Cup — 2nd-longest such streak this century. 18 goals in all comps. 2 vs PSG in the UCL.
Folarin Balogun.
The number nine.
Twenty-four years old.
A S Monaco in Ligue 1.
Twenty-five caps.
Eight goals.
Scored in eight consecutive Ligue 1 matches heading into the World Cup.
The second-longest such streak this century.
Eighteen goals in all competitions for Monaco.
Two against P S G in the Champions League.
The most in-form American striker in a generation.
USA · BOX-TO-BOX
Weston McKennie
27
Age
Juventus
Club
64
Caps
12
Goals
★ 9 goals in 42 apps for Juve. 4 in the UCL. Only the 3rd Juventus midfielder ever to reach 10 career UCL goals — after Platini and Nedvěd.
Weston McKennie.
The midfielder.
Twenty-seven years old.
Juventus in Serie A. Sixty-four caps.
Twelve goals.
Nine goals in forty-two appearances for Juventus this season.
Four of them in the Champions League.
Only the third Juventus midfielder ever to reach ten career U C L goals after Platini and Nedvěd.
Named to the Serie A Team of the Season.
USA · CAPTAIN · ANCHOR
Tyler Adams
26
Age
Bournemouth
Club
52
Caps
2
Goals
★ Captained the USA at Qatar 2022. Tore his MCL in December vs Manchester United. Returned in April. Fitness is the live risk flag of the group stage.
Tyler Adams.
The captain.
Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Fifty-two caps.
Two goals.
Captained the U S A at Qatar twenty twenty-two.
Tore his M C L in December against Manchester United.
Returned to first-team action in April.
His fitness is the live risk flag of the group stage.
Group D · Sixth Straight WC
Australia
FIFA #27
Group D · Sixth Straight WC
AUSTRALIA
Sixth consecutive World Cup. 3-4-2-1 wing-back dependent. Set-piece danger from Souttar. Irankunda's pace as the wild card. Pushed Argentina to 1-2 in Qatar.
6TH
Consecutive WC
R16
Qatar 2022
3-4-2-1
Wing-back press
Head Coach
Tony Popovic
⚠ Lewis Miller out · lack of star depth
Now.
Australia.
Ranked twenty-seventh.
Tony Popovic, the former Crystal Palace defender, in charge since September twenty twenty-four.
Sixth consecutive World Cup.
Qualified the tenth of June twenty twenty-five as A F C third-round Group C runner-up.
A three-four-two-one.
Wing-back dependent.
High press.
Set-piece danger from Souttar.
Irankunda's pace as the wild card.
The strength is the never-say-die culture forged at Qatar twenty twenty-two, where Australia reached the Round of Sixteen and pushed Argentina to one-two.
The weakness is the lack of star depth.
Lewis Miller, the first-choice right wing-back, ruled out injured.
AUSTRALIA · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Socceroos to watch
1/4
AUSTRALIA · CAPTAIN · GK
Mathew Ryan
34
Age
Levante
Club
100+
Caps
3RD
Aus to 100
★ Reached 100 caps in June 2025 vs Saudi Arabia. Saved a penalty in the same match. Only the 3rd Socceroo ever to 100 caps. Almost certainly his final WC.
Mathew Ryan.
The captain and goalkeeper.
Thirty-four years old.
Levante in La Liga.
Over one hundred caps.
Reached the century in June twenty twenty-five against Saudi Arabia.
Saved a penalty in the same match.
Only the third Socceroo ever to one hundred caps.
This is almost certainly his final World Cup.
AUSTRALIA · RIGHT WINGER
Nestory Irankunda
19
Age
Watford
Club
~10
Caps
3
Goals
★ Broke the A-League transfer record when Bayern Munich signed him in 2024. Now at Watford after a permanent move. FIFA: 'one of the brightest talents Australia has produced.'
Nestory Irankunda.
The right winger.
Nineteen years old.
Watford in the Championship.
Around ten caps.
Three goals.
Broke the A-League transfer record when Bayern Munich signed him in twenty twenty-four.
Now at Watford after a permanent move from Bayern.
F I F A call him one of the brightest talents Australia has ever produced.
AUSTRALIA · ORGANISER
Jackson Irvine
32
Age
St. Pauli (C)
Club
~78
Caps
12
Goals
★ Club captain at Sankt Pauli in the Bundesliga. The on-field organiser. His partnership with Riley McGree is the engine of Popovic's press.
Jackson Irvine.
The midfielder.
Thirty-two years old.
F C Sankt Pauli in the Bundesliga.
Around seventy-eight caps.
Twelve goals.
Club captain at Sankt Pauli.
The on-field organiser.
His partnership with Riley McGree is the engine of Popovic's press.
AUSTRALIA · AERIAL MONSTER
Harry Souttar
26
Age
Leicester
Club
~40
Caps
6'6"
Height
★ Six foot six. One of the tallest defenders at this World Cup. Aerial monster from set pieces. Returning from an Achilles injury. Threat at both ends.
Harry Souttar.
The centre-back.
Twenty-six years old.
Leicester City.
Around forty caps.
Five goals.
Six foot six.
One of the tallest defenders at this World Cup.
An aerial monster from set pieces.
Returning from an Achilles injury.
Australia's threat at both ends of the pitch when the ball is in the air.
Group D · First WC Since 2010
Paraguay
FIFA #40
Group D · First WC Since 2010
PARAGUAY
First World Cup since 2010. Alfaro's 4-4-2 low block, direct counters. Almirón engine, Enciso creator, Sanabria reference, Gómez commanding the back line.
16 YRS
Since Last WC
10 GA
in 18 quals
14 GF
Lowest CONMEBOL
Head Coach
Gustavo Alfaro
⚠ Lowest scoring CONMEBOL qualifier · no Plan B
Now to South America.
Paraguay.
Ranked fortieth.
Gustavo Alfaro, the Argentine tactician, in charge since twenty twenty-four.
First World Cup since twenty ten.
A sixteen-year gap.
Qualified the fourth of September twenty twenty-five as C O N M E B O L sixth place.
A four-four-two with a low block and direct counter-attacks.
Almirón as the engine.
Enciso the creator.
Sanabria the reference point.
Gómez commanding the back line.
The strength is defensive discipline.
Just ten goals conceded in eighteen qualifying matches.
The weakness is goals.
Paraguay scored only fourteen in those eighteen games.
The lowest of any South American qualifier.
There is no Plan B.
PARAGUAY · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Paraguayans to watch
1/4
PARAGUAY · ENGINE
Miguel Almirón
32
Age
Atlanta Utd
Club
73
Caps
9
Goals
★ Played 15 of 18 CONMEBOL qualifying matches. In March, assisted all 3 goals in Atlanta's 3-1 win over Philadelphia. Atlanta's all-time regular-season assists leader.
Miguel Almirón.
The midfielder.
Thirty-two years old.
Atlanta United in M L S. Seventy-three caps.
Nine goals.
Played fifteen of eighteen C O N M E B O L qualifying matches.
In March he assisted all three goals in Atlanta's three-one win over Philadelphia.
The first hat-trick of assists of his M L S career.
Atlanta's all-time regular-season assists leader.
PARAGUAY · CREATOR
Julio Enciso
21
Age
Strasbourg
Club
31
Caps
4
Goals
★ Joined Strasbourg from Brighton for £17M in September 2025. Top scorer of Paraguay's qualifying campaign with 3 goals. Primary set-piece taker. Creates from nothing.
Julio Enciso.
The attacking midfielder.
Twenty-one years old.
R C Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
Thirty-one caps.
Four goals.
Joined Strasbourg from Brighton for seventeen million pounds in September twenty twenty-five.
Top scorer of Paraguay's qualifying campaign with three goals.
Paraguay's primary set-piece taker.
The rare Paraguayan who can create something from nothing.
PARAGUAY · CAPTAIN · CB
Gustavo Gómez
31
Age
Palmeiras (C)
Club
88
Caps
4
Goals
★ Captains both club and country. Former AC Milan defender. Highest-scoring defender in Palmeiras history with 37 goals. The reason Paraguay's qualifying defence conceded just 10.
Gustavo Gómez.
The captain.
Thirty-one years old.
Palmeiras in Brazil.
Eighty-eight caps.
Four goals.
Captains both club and country.
Former A C Milan defender.
The highest-scoring defender in Palmeiras history with thirty-seven goals.
The reason Paraguay's qualifying defence conceded just ten goals.
PARAGUAY · TARGET MAN
Antonio Sanabria
28
Age
Cremonese
Club
Serie A
League
ESP→PAR
Born/Chose
★ Born in Spain. Chose Paraguay. The breakout target man of qualifying. Physical reference point who holds the ball up and brings Almirón and Enciso into play.
Antonio Sanabria.
The striker.
Twenty-eight years old.
Cremonese in Serie A. Born in Spain.
Chose Paraguay.
The breakout target man of qualifying.
A physical reference point who holds the ball up and brings Almirón and Enciso into play.
Group D · First WC Since 2002
Turkey
FIFA #22
Group D · First WC Since 2002
TURKEY
First WC since 2002. UEFA play-off Path C. Beat Romania 1-0, beat Kosovo 1-0 (Aktürkoğlu 90'). 4-2-3-1 with Çalhanoğlu deep, Güler false 10, Yıldız left.
24 YRS
Since Last WC
1-0 KOS
Path C Winner
GÜLER+
Yıldız+Çalhanoğlu
Head Coach
Vincenzo Montella
⚠ Inconsistency · no WC experience in squad
And finally.
Turkey.
Ranked twenty-second.
Vincenzo Montella, the Italian, appointed September twenty twenty-three.
First World Cup since two thousand and two.
A twenty-four-year absence.
Qualified through U E F A play-off Path C. Beat Romania one-nil in the semi.
Beat Kosovo one-nil in the final on the thirty-first of March twenty twenty-six.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu's ninetieth-minute winner sent them through.
A four-two-three-one.
Çalhanoğlu controls tempo from deep.
Güler floats as a false ten.
Yıldız direct on the left.
Aktürkoğlu pressing from the front.
The strength is the Güler-Yıldız-Çalhanoğlu creative axis.
Genuinely world-class.
The weakness is inconsistency.
Turkey only qualified via the play-offs after finishing third in their U E F A group.
No player in the squad has World Cup experience.
Hakan Şükür's eleven-second goal in the two thousand and two third-place match remains the fastest goal in World Cup history.
This generation carries that legacy.
TURKEY · STAR PLAYERS
The 4 Turks to watch
1/4
TURKEY · CAPTAIN · CDM
Hakan Çalhanoğlu
32
Age
Inter Milan
Club
104
Caps
22
Goals
★ Reached 100 caps in October 2025 in a 6-1 win over Bulgaria. 37 Serie A goals across his career — the greatest Turkish goalscorer in Serie A history. UCL runner-up 2024.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
The captain.
Thirty-two years old.
Inter Milan in Serie A.
One hundred and four caps.
Twenty-two goals.
Reached one hundred caps in October twenty twenty-five in a six-one win over Bulgaria.
Thirty-seven Serie A goals across his career.
The greatest Turkish goalscorer in Serie A history.
Champions League runner-up with Inter in twenty twenty-four.
TURKEY · NUMBER 10
Arda Güler
20
Age
Real Madrid
Club
28
Caps
5
Goals
★ On 14 March 2026 he scored from 68 metres against Elche — the longest goal ever in La Liga history. 4 goals + 9 assists this season. Özil called him Messi's heir.
Arda Güler.
The number ten.
Twenty years old.
Real Madrid in La Liga.
Twenty-eight caps.
Five goals.
On the fourteenth of March twenty twenty-six he scored from sixty-eight metres against Elche.
The longest goal ever scored in La Liga history.
Four goals and nine assists in La Liga this season.
Mesut Özil called him Messi's heir.
TURKEY · LEFT WING
Kenan Yıldız
20
Age
Juventus
Club
28
Caps
5
Goals
★ Born in Germany to Turkish parents. Chose Turkey over Germany. 10 goals + 6 assists in Serie A this season — his most productive ever. Locked in at Juve until 2030.
Kenan Yıldız.
The left winger.
Twenty years old.
Juventus in Serie A. Twenty-eight caps.
Five goals.
Born in Germany to Turkish parents.
Chose Turkey over Germany.
Ten goals and six assists in Serie A this season.
His most productive season to date.
Locked in at Juventus until twenty thirty.
TURKEY · QUALIFIER HERO
Kerem Aktürkoğlu
26
Age
Forward
Role
90'
vs Kosovo
REC
EU clubs
★ Scored the 90th-minute winner against Kosovo on 31 March 2026 — the goal that sent Turkey to the World Cup. Highest-scoring Turkish player in European club competitions.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu.
The forward.
The man who sent Turkey to the World Cup.
Scored the ninetieth-minute winner against Kosovo on the thirty-first of March twenty twenty-six.
The highest-scoring Turkish player in European club competitions.
A relentless presser with an eye for goal in crucial moments.
Group D · Schedule
6 GAMES. 4 TEAMS.
Every game competitive.
USA
TUR
AUS
PAR
Now the matches.
GROUP D · SCHEDULE
All 6 Group D matches
1/6
MATCHDAY 1 · 12 JUN
USA vs Paraguay
12 Jun 2026 · 18:00 local
USA
VS
Paraguay
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood CA · ~69,000 seats
HOSTS OPEN AT HOME
★ Pochettino's high press against Alfaro's low block. Translucent ETFE roof. Built in 2020 — youngest WC2026 venue.
Match one.
The twelfth of June.
United States versus Paraguay.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Around sixty-nine thousand seats.
Built in twenty twenty.
Translucent E T F E roof.
Eighteen hundred local kickoff.
The hosts open at home.
Pochettino's high press against Alfaro's low block.
MATCHDAY 1 · 13 JUN
Australia vs Turkey
13 Jun 2026 · 21:00 local
Australia
VS
Turkey
BC Place · Vancouver BC · ~54,500 seats
ONLY CANADIAN GROUP D
★ World's largest cable-supported retractable roof. Popovic's wing-backs against Çalhanoğlu's tempo.
Match two.
The thirteenth of June.
Australia versus Turkey.
B C Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Fifty-four thousand five hundred seats.
The world's largest cable-supported retractable roof.
Twenty-one hundred local kickoff.
The only Canadian Group D match.
Popovic's wing-backs against Çalhanoğlu's tempo.
MATCHDAY 2 · 19 JUN
USA vs Australia
19 Jun 2026 · 12:00 local
USA
VS
Australia
Lumen Field · Seattle WA · ~69,000 seats
BALOGUN vs SOUTTAR
★ Home of the Seahawks and Sounders. Natural grass laid over synthetic turf. Balogun against Souttar in the air.
Match three.
The nineteenth of June.
United States versus Australia.
Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
Around sixty-nine thousand seats.
Home of the Seahawks and the Sounders.
Twelve noon local.
Natural grass laid over synthetic turf.
Balogun against Souttar in the air.
MATCHDAY 2 · 19 JUN
Turkey vs Paraguay
19 Jun 2026 · 20:00 local
Turkey
VS
Paraguay
Levi's Stadium · Santa Clara CA · ~68,500 seats
GÜLER vs PARAGUAY BACK LINE
★ Home of the San Francisco 49ers. Solar panels generate stadium's annual power. Güler's creativity vs Gómez.
Match four.
The nineteenth of June.
Turkey versus Paraguay.
Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Around sixty-eight thousand five hundred seats.
Home of the San Francisco Forty-Niners.
Twenty hundred local kickoff.
Güler against the Paraguay back line.
MATCHDAY 3 · 25 JUN
Turkey vs USA
25 Jun 2026 · 19:00 local
Turkey
VS
USA
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood CA · ~69,000 seats
GROUP D DECIDER
★ The decisive match. Whoever wins this likely wins Group D. Turkey beating the USA on home soil would be a defining upset.
Match five.
The twenty-fifth of June.
Turkey versus United States.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California again.
Nineteen hundred local kickoff.
The decisive match of the group.
Whoever wins this likely wins Group D.
A Turkey victory on U S soil would be one of the tournament's defining upsets.
MATCHDAY 3 · 25 JUN
Paraguay vs Australia
25 Jun 2026 · 19:00 local
Paraguay
VS
Australia
Levi's Stadium · Santa Clara CA · ~68,500 seats
BATTLE FOR 2ND/3RD/4TH
★ Played simultaneously with Turkey vs USA. The battle for second, third, and fourth could come down to this game.
Match six.
The twenty-fifth of June.
Paraguay versus Australia.
Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara again.
Nineteen hundred local kickoff.
Played simultaneously with Turkey versus the U S A.
The battle for second, third, and fourth could come down to this game.
Predicted Standings · Bookmakers
The verdict from Vegas.
| Team | Win Group | Odds | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1USA | ~42% | +130 | FAVOURITE |
| 2Turkey | ~36% | +175 | CONTENDER |
| 3Paraguay | ~20% | +350 | DARK HORSE |
| 4Australia | ~12% | +900 | UNDERDOG |
Sources: FanDuel + BetMGM + RotoWire · April 2026
THE HINGE · Turkey vs USA · SoFi · 25 Jun
Mark The Dates
MATCHDAY 1
12
JUN
USA vs PAR · SoFi
MATCHDAY 1
13
JUN
AUS vs TUR · BC Place
MATCHDAY 2
19
JUN
USA vs AUS · Lumen
TUR vs PAR · Levi's
TUR vs PAR · Levi's
FINAL MD
25
JUN
TUR vs USA · SoFi
PAR vs AUS · Levi's
PAR vs AUS · Levi's
USA
TUR
AUS
PAR
Follow AI Football for every group · every player · every story
Mark the dates.
The twelfth of June.
U S A versus Paraguay at SoFi Stadium.
The thirteenth of June.
Australia versus Turkey at B C Place in Vancouver.
The nineteenth of June.
Two games.
U S A versus Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Turkey versus Paraguay at Levi's Stadium.
The twenty-fifth of June.
The final matchday.
Turkey versus the U S A at SoFi.
Paraguay versus Australia at Levi's.
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