Australia, Paraguay and Türkiye are the first hurdles facing co-hosts USA at the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The USMNT have reached the knockout rounds in four of their last six appearances at the finals since staging the competition as sole hosts in 1994, but will need to be at their very best to get out of a testing Group D.
Group D fixtures
Full World Cup match schedule
USA
How did USA qualify?
USA were announced as co-hosts of the 2026 edition, alongside Canada and Mexico, on 13 June 2018. The three nations’ automatic qualification for the tournament was confirmed at a FIFA Council meeting on 14 February 2023.
Australia
How did Australia qualify?
Australia topped their section in the second round of AFC qualifying, before advancing to the finals as runners-up to Japan in the third-round of qualifying.
Paraguay
How did Paraguay qualify?
Paraguay benefited from CONMEBOL’s expanded qualifying pool to reach their ninth World Cup. La Albirroja claimed the sixth and final automatic qualification berth, finishing eight points clear of the chasing pack.
Türkiye
How did Türkiye qualify?
Having finished second to Spain in UEFA qualifying Group E, Vincenzo Montella’s charges got the job done in the play-offs with wins over Romania and Kosovo.
Group D standings
Group D facts and statistics
Round of 32 potential meetings
The Group D winners will face a third-place finisher from either Group B, E, F, I, or J at San Francisco Bay Arena Stadium, while the runners-up will take on the the Group G runners-up in Dallas. Should the third-placed team in the section qualify as one of the eight best, they will meet either the Group E, Group K or Group I winners in Boston, Kansas City or New York New Jersey.
