Group D promises to be one of the most intriguing groups at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring hosts the United States alongside Paraguay, Turkey and Australia.
The United States enter under immense pressure, knowing a strong run on home soil could elevate soccer’s status nationwide. Led by Christian Pulisic and a talented young squad, they are favourites to top the group.
Paraguay arrive with renewed belief under Gustavo Alfaro, whose psychology-driven leadership transformed a struggling side into one of South America’s surprise qualifiers. Their disciplined defence and resilience make them dangerous opponents.
Turkey return to the World Cup for the first time since 2002, powered by an exciting generation featuring Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız. Their attacking talent could carry them deep, though consistency remains a concern.
Australia, meanwhile, bring their trademark determination and organisation. While lacking global stars, the Socceroos have repeatedly exceeded expectations at major tournaments. With every team capable of advancing, Group D could deliver some of the tournament’s most competitive matches.
US face defining World Cup on home soil
The United States head into the World Cup facing perhaps higher stakes than any other team, with a deep run likely to accelerate the sport's growth in the country and an early exit from a favourable group threatening to stall years of progress.
Put simply, it may be the most important World Cup in U.S. soccer history.
As co-hosts, the Americans were spared the grind of qualifying, leaving questions over the readiness of Mauricio Pochettino's squad heading into the tournament. What is not in doubt is the pressure on the Stars and Stripes.
Reaching the knockout rounds is the minimum expectation for a team that advanced to the last 16 in Qatar in 2022, four years after the humiliation of failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia.
The U.S. are the highest-ranked side in Group D, which includes Turkey, Australia and Paraguay. Winning the group is a realistic target and would provide a more favourable route through the knockout rounds.
Potential opponents in the last 32, should the U.S. top the group, would be a third-place team from groups B, E, F, I or J - and could be Canada - a path that would give the U.S. a chance of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.
INTERNATIONAL CREDIBILITY
U.S. soccer has spent decades trying to earn lasting credibility on the international stage in a country where most of the best male athletes are drawn to American football, basketball or baseball - sports that offer greater visibility, richer professional pathways and deeper cultural roots.
That has often left the men's national soccer team fighting for relevance at home as much as respect abroad.
A deep run at a home World Cup, however, could reshape perceptions. Even a place in the latter stages would energise a new generation of fans, strengthen the team's standing and provide a major lift to Major League Soccer, which continues to seek a larger place in the North American sporting landscape.
Christian Pulisic, the U.S. team's most recognisable player, believes the current squad is the strongest the country has produced and expects home support to provide a major lift.
"The energy in the stadiums is going to be great," Pulisic told Reuters. "We want to take that motivation and push to make the American people proud."
The U.S. open their campaign on June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Folarin Balogun (Mónaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Olympique Marsella), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America)
Paraguay bank on Alfaro's psychology-driven approach at World Cup
Gustavo Alfaro is being hailed in Paraguay as the key figure behind the rapid turnaround of a team who had struggled in South American qualifying and are now World Cup-bound, with many crediting a strategy rooted in psychology.
Since taking over in August 2024, the 63-year-old Argentine manager has won over both players and fans with results and a motivational style, often drawing on authors and historical figures to reinforce soccer-related ideas.
Alfaro led Paraguay to a sixth-place finish in the South American qualifiers, securing the continent's final automatic World Cup berth and the country's first appearance on international soccer's biggest stage since 2010.
Alfaro has said he keeps a notebook of reflections to use when he wants to strengthen a concept within the group, having cited the likes of Albert Einstein and five-times Formula One world champion Juan Manuel Fangio.
Quotes such as "We triumph and fail less than we think," by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, are among those he has used during a career that has included spells with Ecuador, Costa Rica and Boca Juniors.
Alfaro urged players to rediscover the "grit" long associated with Paraguay and to believe they can compete with powerhouses such as Brazil and Argentina, echoing their historic 2010 campaign in South Africa, when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual winners Spain.
He brought a psychologist into his coaching staff for individual sessions tailored to each player and forged a strong connection with fans as results improved - the coach was once hugged by a supermarket worker in tears and had his face tattooed by another fan.
Paraguay's remarkable qualifying campaign under Alfaro included climbing from the bottom of the standings, a nine-match unbeaten run and victories over Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
After defeating Brazil, Alfaro told reporters: "All I had to do was shake the tree a little so the spiders would fall off and we could realise the tree was full of fruit." He described the win over Uruguay as "the mother of all battles".
Results dipped later in qualifying and friendlies, raising questions over whether his approach will be enough on the global stage, as Paraguay prepare to debut against co-hosts the United States in Los Angeles on June 12.
Also facing Australia and Turkey in Group D, the South American team will rely on a solid defensive system led by 33-year-old captain Gustavo Gomez to reach the knockout stage, after conceding only 10 goals in 18 qualifying matches.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Roberto Junior Fernandez (Cerro Porteno), Gaston Olveira (Olimpia)
Defenders: Juan Caceres (Dynamo Moscow), Gustavo Velazquez (Cerro Porteno), Gustavo Gomez (Palmeiras), Junior Alonso (Atletico Mineiro), Jose Canale (Lanus), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres), Fabian Balbuena (Gremio)
Midfielders: Diego Gomez (Brighton), Mauricio Magalhaes (Palmeiras), Damian Bobadilla (Sao Paulo), Braian Ojeda (Vancouver Whitecaps), Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Matias Galarza (Atlanta United), Alejandro Romero Gamarra (Al Ain)
Forwards: Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth), Ramon Sosa (Palmeiras), Alex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia), Gabriel Avalos (Independiente), Isidro Pitta (RB Bragantino), Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg), Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese)
Turkey's new generation eyes World Cup impact after 24-year absence
Turkey return to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years buoyed up by gifted young players -- including Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler -- and by memories of their run to the 2002 semi-finals, but doubts over consistency and big-match temperament persist.
Coach Vincenzo Montella guided Turkey through qualification with a series of narrow victories and restored optimism after an encouraging Euro 2024 campaign, with Guler emerging as the face of a team many Turkish fans believe could become the country's strongest in decades.
The squad also features Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz and several Europe-based players who have raised expectations that Turkey can finally build on the legacy of the side that finished third at the 2002 World Cup under Senol Gunes.
Yet Turkey’s qualification campaign also exposed familiar weaknesses.
A 6-0 home defeat by European champions Spain in Konya last September was a defining reality check, suggesting deficits compared to the world’s elite sides despite the growing excitement around the team’s attacking talent.
The loss reinforced a reputation that has long followed Turkey: capable of upsetting stronger opponents on their day, but equally vulnerable to emotional collapses and defensive disorganisation.
Montella has sought to bring greater tactical discipline and calm to a squad that has often struggled with inconsistency over the past two decades.
Turkey impressed at times during Euro 2024 with their aggressive pressing and technical quality, but they also relied heavily on moments of individual brilliance and rode their luck in several matches.
Turkey are in Group D alongside hosts the United States, Paraguay and Australia, and will be based in Mesa, Arizona, for the tournament.
Much of Turkey’s hopes are expected to rest on the creativity of Guler, whose rapid rise at Real Madrid has made him one of the country’s biggest sporting talents and raised expectations that he can lead a new era for the national team.
Guler and several other squad members were not even born in 2002 when Turkey made their run to the semi-finals, an achievement which still features heavily in the country's football folklore.
Whether this generation can create its own history, however, may depend on whether Turkey can finally overcome the volatility that has repeatedly prevented talented squads from delivering consistently on the biggest stage.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Mert Gunok (Fenerbahce), Ugurcan Cakir (Galatasaray)
Defenders: Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Caglar Soyuncu (Fenerbahce), Eren Elmali (Galatasaray), Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli Saudi), Mert Muldur (Fenerbahce), Ozan Kabak (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydin (Caykur Rizespor), Zeki Celik (AS Roma)
Midfielders: Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas), Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund)
Strikers: Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Baris Alper Yilmaz (Galatasaray), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Deniz Gul (Porto), Irfan Can Kahveci (Kasimpasa), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce), Oguz Aydin (Fenerbahce), Yunus Akgun (Galatasaray)
Workmanlike Australia eye another trip to World Cup knockout rounds
Short on star power but always up for a fight, Australia head to the World Cup eyeing another trip to the knockout rounds but dogged by the usual questions about whether they have the attacking quality to trouble the top teams.
The Socceroos have made a habit of qualifying for the global soccer showpiece, making it to the last six tournaments and reaching the last 16 for a second time in Qatar four years ago.
Despite a dearth of world-class players, they broke new ground in Qatar under former coach Graham Arnold, winning multiple matches for the first time after scraping through qualifying via an intercontinental playoff.
With the benefit of an expanded 48-team tournament, qualifying for North America was a relative breeze under coach Tony Popovic and left staff with plenty of time to plan.
Home fans are expectant but Australia find themselves in a tricky group with co-hosts the United States, a resurgent Turkey and 2010 quarter-finalists Paraguay.
Popovic's squad is no more blessed with elite-level players than Arnold's was, but it carries a similar swagger.
"We're not hoping, we are really believing that we can go further than any Socceroos team ever before," veteran midfielder Jackson Irvine told Reuters.
Since replacing Arnold midway through the World Cup cycle, Popovic has cast the net wide in search of talent.
While relying on old hands such as goalkeeper Mat Ryan, his roster is laden with World Cup debutants and rising talents such as full back Jordan Bos and winger Nestory Irankunda.
A late entrant to the squad was former Italy under-20 international Cristian Volpato, who plays for Serie A side Sassuolo and, as a dual citizen, switched allegiance to Australia last week.
The Socceroos retain the same physicality and doggedness they had under Arnold but are even more wedded to structure and defensive organisation under Popovic.
That may serve them well as they negotiate the group stage but could prove less effective in the knockout rounds when goals tend to be harder to come by.
Australia have made do without a notable target man since Tim Cahill was in his pomp and lack top-shelf midfielders to serve their limited forwards.
There is plenty of excitement around 20-year-old Irankunda and 22-year-old striker Mohamed Toure, who have impressed for their clubs in England's second tier.
Expecting them to fire Australia into the last 16 with a flurry of goals may be a bit much but former Socceroos striker Archie Thompson reckons the African-born duo can make a name for themselves.
"These young players are an X-factor," Thompson, who scored 28 goals in 54 internationals, told Reuters.
"They could come on to the world stage and dominate. Or it may take another World Cup when they're more hardened."
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan, Paul Izzo, Patrick Beach
Defenders: Aziz Behich, Jordan Bos, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington,Jacob Italiano, Harry Souttar, Kai Trewin
Midfielders: Cameron Devlin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler
Forwards: Nestory Irankunda, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Mohamed Toure, Nishan Velupillary, Cristian Volpato, Tete Yengi
