Group D Preview
The United States host their first World Cup match in 32 years, but Group D offers no easy nights for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Turkey’s talented attacking generation, a pragmatic and experienced Paraguay side and a hard-to-beat Australia make this one of the more competitive groups in the tournament.
All four teams will believe they can qualify when the group stage begins on June 12.
World Cup Group D fixtures and where to watch
| Fixture | Date | Kick-off (all UK BST) | Venue | Where 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 Field, 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 |
Here, we take a look at the teams in detail.
United States: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
Qualification: CONCACAF (co-hosts)
Best World Cup: Third place (1930)
The United States enter this summer’s tournament on home soil and with more expectation than at any point in recent memory.
Mauricio Pochettino has built a squad with genuine quality across the pitch. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in midfield, a back three offering stability, and Christian Pulisic leading the attack as captain.
The squad is young in parts, with an average age of just under 27, and half the group has World Cup experience from Qatar in 2022.
The home atmosphere across Los Angeles and Seattle should work in their favour. Playing in front of a sold-out SoFi Stadium for the opener against Paraguay will be unlike anything most of these players have experienced before, and Pochettino will be hoping that energy carries the side rather than weighing on them.
Questions remain over the goalkeeping position, which has been debated throughout qualification, and whether the squad can cope when opponents sit deep and invite them to break them down.
USA star player: Christian Pulisic carries the burden
Pulisic arrives as the face of US football.
The AC Milan forward is one of the best American players of his generation and brings quality in wide areas as well as through the middle.
When he is at his best, the United States are a different proposition. Everything runs through him.
Prediction: USA to top the group
Home advantage, squad depth and familiarity with the conditions make the United States the favourites here. Turkey will push them, but Pochettino’s side have enough to come through.
Turkey: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Vincenzo Montella
Qualification: UEFA playoffs (beat Romania and Kosovo)
Best World Cup: Third place (2002)
Turkey return to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years and do so with arguably the most exciting attacking contingent in the group.
Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz were not even born the last time Turkey played at a World Cup. Both are now key figures in Vincenzo Montella’s side, and the prospect of the Real Madrid and Juventus forwards operating together at a major tournament for the first time on the global stage is one of the most intriguing storylines in Group D.
Qualification was not straightforward. Turkey finished second behind Spain in their UEFA group and then needed two narrow 1-0 wins over Romania and Kosovo in the playoffs to secure their place.
The concern is defensively. The back line can be exposed when opponents press the midfield pivot, and any slip in concentration against the United States in the final group game could cost them. But on the right night, Turkey have the talent to beat anyone in this group.
Turkey star player: Arda Guler is the one to watch
Guler is the most naturally gifted player in this squad and the one who could make the difference in tight matches.
The Real Madrid playmaker has the ability to unlock defences with a single pass or a moment of individual brilliance.
He is still only 20 years old, and this World Cup could be the tournament that announces him to a global audience.
Prediction: Turkey to qualify in second place
The attacking quality is there. If Montella can keep the side defensively sound, Turkey should edge out Paraguay and Australia to join the United States in the knockout rounds.
Paraguay: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Qualification: CONMEBOL qualifiers
Best World Cup: Quarter-finals (2010)
Paraguay’s return to the World Cup is a significant moment. They missed three consecutive tournaments between 2014 and 2022, a painful absence for a nation that reached the quarter-finals as recently as 2010.
Paraguay scored just 14 goals in 18 CONMEBOL matches, the fewest of any automatic qualifier from South America.
But they conceded only 10, and crucially won the matches that mattered most, including impressive victories over Brazil and Argentina late in the campaign.
The creative burden falls on Miguel Almiron and the younger Diego Gomez, with Julio Enciso providing an unpredictable option in attack. If those three can find their best form together, Paraguay are capable of causing problems for any side in this group.
Paraguay star player: Miguel Almiron as the creative force
Almiron is still the heartbeat of this Paraguay side.
Back in MLS with Atlanta United after his years at Newcastle, the 31-year-old brings experience and creativity.
He scored six goals and added four assists in MLS last season and remains the most likely source of something unexpected for Paraguay.
Prediction: Paraguay can threaten for second place
A rigid structure and the quality of Almiron and company give Paraguay a genuine chance.
They will make life difficult for every team in this group and should be targeting at least four points.
Australia: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Tony Popovic
Qualification: AFC qualifiers
Best World Cup: Round of 16 (2006, 2022)
Australia arrive for a sixth consecutive World Cup knowing they will need to exceed expectations to progress.
Tony Popovic replaced Graham Arnold midway through a difficult start to qualification in 2024 and has since built a more organised and resilient side, finishing second behind Japan in the AFC third round to secure their place in North America.
The Socceroos lost just once across the entire AFC qualifying process, which speaks to the quality Popovic has instilled.
His approach is pragmatic. Australia play a back three, press aggressively without the ball and look to exploit the counter-attack through pace in wide areas.
Nestory Irankunda, the 20-year-old Watford forward, is one of the most electric young players in the squad.
The absence of a generational talent, the sort that Tim Cahill or Harry Kewell provided in 2006, makes the task harder. But the squad is experienced, well-organised and difficult to beat, which gives them a platform to work from.
Australia star player: Nestory Irankunda can be the game-changer
Irankunda is Australia’s most dangerous and unpredictable attacking option.
The Watford forward is quick, direct and fearless, and Popovic faces a key decision over whether to start him or deploy him from the bench as a game-changer against tiring legs.
If he is given the freedom to run at defenders, he could be one of the stars of the group stage.
Prediction: A difficult path for Australia
Australia will make things hard for all three opponents, but the gap in individual quality against the United States and Turkey could prove to be too much. Progress from the group would be a significant achievement.
Predicted World Cup 2026 Group D table
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | |
| USA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Turkey | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Australia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
