World Cup 2026 – Group D guide: Hosts USA face Turkey, Australia and Paraguay in open group | OneFootball

Is this the most open group at the 2026 World Cup? It’s certainly right up there. Co-hosts United States are the top seeds and the favourites to progress as Group D winners, but the other contenders will also fancy their chances.

Mauricio Pochettino is the man entrusted with leading the US at their second home tournament. In 1994, they progressed to the round of 16, losing to eventual champions Brazil. Thirty-two years on, the US are long shots to win the tournament but will be backed by a boisterous home crowd on the west coast.

As for the rest, it’s extremely open. Just 18 ranking spots separate Turkey (22), Australia (27) and Paraguay (40), with the South Americans’ impressive qualifying record (second-best defence) evidence that they will be no pushover. Australia have always gone well on the world stage, reaching the knockout stage last time out in Qatar, while Turkey have momentum after progressing through the European play-offs in March.

(all times BST)

13 June, 2am: USA vs Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

14 June, 5am: Australia vs Turkey – BC Place, Vancouver

19 June, 8pm: USA vs Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle

20 June, 4am: Turkey vs Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

26 June, 3am: Turkey vs USA – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

26 June, 3am: Paraguay vs Australia – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

United States

Expectations are naturally high for the co-hosts and their manager Pochettino, who has been building towards this tournament since replacing Gregg Berhalter two years ago.

Results in the last year have been patchy and the US missed out on glory at last summer’s Gold Cup after losing to Mexico in the final. Fascinatingly, the squad captained by ex-Fulham defender Tim Ream (now playing for Charlotte FC) have faced all three Group D opponents in the last year in friendlies, beating Australia and Paraguay but losing to Turkey.

Progression to the knockout stage is the minimum requirement, but the US will have their sights set on going deep. If that’s to happen, they’ll need their star players – such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun – to make the difference when it really matters. As they say stateside, it’s show time.

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Mauricio Pochettino has coached the United States since 2024 (Getty)

Squad

Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergino Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic).

Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Monchengladbach), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Weah (Marseille), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America)

Forwards: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

Coach: Mauricio Pochettino

Star player – Christian Pulisic, AC Milan: Long heralded as the USA’s truly world-class player, the winger has often flattered to deceive in his topsy-turvy club career. A mixed bag at Chelsea, Pulisic’s hip issues have hampered him at AC Milan. However, his speed and cutting-edge in the final third still makes him Pochettino’s biggest asset.

Breakout talent – Folarin Balogun, Monaco: The ex-Arsenal frontman, who was born in New York but grew up in London, has impressed at Monaco this season, scoring 19 goals in all competitions. The 24-year-old’s record for his country is also respectable, with nine goals in 26 caps.

Fifa ranking: 16.

Odds to win the World Cup: 50/1.

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Christian Pulisic is vital to USA's chances at their home World Cup (Reuters)

Paraguay

Qualifying for their first World Cup since South Africa 2010 – when they narrowly lost to winners Spain in the quarter-finals – Paraguay head into the tournament with confidence, having finished with the joint-second best defensive record in South American qualifying and beating Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in the capital of Asuncion.

However, their style of play is obvious: soak up the pressure, allow opponents to dominate the ball and then break quickly on the counter-attack. Sunderland’s Omar Alderete is a leader at the back, with ex-Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron and Brighton’s Diego Gomez their star players going forward.

They did lose to the US in a friendly last November, 2-1, but have beaten Mexico and Greece in the past year too.

Goalkeepers: Roberto Fernandez (Cerro Porteno), Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Gaston Olveira (Olimpia)

Defenders: Gustavo Gomez (Palmeiras), Junior Alonso (Atletico Mineiro), Fabian Balbuena (Gremio), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Juan Caceres (Dynamo Moscow), Jose Canale (Lanus), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres), Gustavo Velazquez (Cerro Porteno)

Midfielders: Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Diego Gomez (Brighton & Hove Albion), Damian Bobadilla (Sao Paulo), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City), Matias Galarza (Atlanta United), Mauricio Magalhaes (Palmeiras)

Forwards: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Ramon Sosa (Palmeiras), Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg), Gabriel Avalos (Independiente), Alex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia), Isidro Pitta (Red Bull Bragantino), Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth)

Coach: Gustavo Alfaro

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Ex-Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron will star for Paraguay at the World Cup (Getty)

Star player – Miguel Almiron, Atlanta United: A first World Cup for the popular ex-Newcastle man, now plying his trade at Atlanta United. Not only does the 32-year-old have 75 caps to his name – the second-most in the squad – but perhaps worryingly, he has the most international goals in the squad. However, that’s not even double figures, with nine.

Breakout talent – Julio Enciso, Strasbourg: Formerly of Brighton (with a six-month loan spell at Ipswich last year), the incisive, blonde-haired attacker is now at Strasbourg and scored 12 goals in all competitions. Capable of a spark at any moment, he could be a difference-maker in the final third.

Fifa ranking: 40.

Odds to win the World Cup: 150/1.

Australia

Compared to previous eras which had the likes of Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer in the squad – all proven Premier League players – this 2026 team is lacking in star names and expectations are minimal heading into North America 2026.

Coach Tony Popovic prefers a back five system, with the onus on set-pieces at the attacking end of the pitch with the likes of Leicester’s Harry Souttar and Feyenoord’s Jordan Bos. At the other end, ex-Brighton keeper Mat Ryan is an experienced No 1 in between the sticks.

They lost narrowly to champions Argentina in the round of 16 in Qatar, sliced open by some Lionel Messi magic. Progression to the knockout round would be a commendable achievement this time around.

Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan (Levante), Paul Izzo (Randers), Patrick Beach (Melbourne City)

Defenders: Aziz Behich (Melbourne City), Jordan Bos (Feynoord), Cameron Burgess (Swansea), Alessandro Circati (Parma), Milos Degenek (APOEL), Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Jacob Italiano (Grazer), Harry Souttar (Leicester), Kai Trewin (New York City)

Midfielders: Cammy Devlin (Hearts), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli), Paul Okon-Englster (Sydney), AidenO’Neill (New York City)

Forwards: Nestory Irankunda (Watford), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Awer Mabil (Castellon), Mohamed Toure (Norwich), Nishan Velupilly (Melbourne City), Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo), Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia)

Coach: Tony Popovic

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Jackson Irvine will captain Australia at his third World Cup (Getty)

Star player – Jackson Irvine, St Pauli: The 33-year-old is captain of both his country and his club, German outfit St Pauli. Known in the UK for his time at Hull City and in Scottish football (Celtic, Kilmarnock, Ross County and Hibernian), the pony-tailed midfielder has endured an injury-plagued season but will be appearing at his third World Cup this summer.

Breakout talent – Tete Yengi, Machida Zelvia: Five years ago, aged 20, Yengi wasn’t even a professional footballer. However, having moved to the UK with Ipswich Town and impressing at Livingston in Scotland, he moved to Japan to play for Machida Zelvia, scoring six goals across 22 games. He has not yet been capped by his country.

Fifa ranking: 27.

Odds to win the World Cup: 500/1.

Turkey

A first World Cup appearance in 24 years for Turkey, who stunned the world last time out when they reached the semi-finals in 2002, only narrowly losing to champions Brazil in the semi-finals.

A pair of 1-0 victories in March’s play-offs, against Romania and Kosovo, secured their passage to this year’s showpiece and they will be champing at the bit in what is a winnable group.

They will have the group’s star player in Real Madrid’s Arda Guler leading their attack while, defensively, some familiar faces to Premier League fans are Man Utd back-up keeper Altay Bayindir in goal and Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu in defence.

Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir (Manchester United), Mert Gunok (Fenerbahce), Ugurcan Cakir (Galatasaray)

Defenders: Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Caglar Soyuncu (Fenerbahce), Eren Elmali (Galatasaray), Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli Saudi), Mert Muldur (Fenerbahce), Ozan Kabak (Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydin (Caykur Rizespor), Zeki Celik (Roma)

Midfielders: Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas), Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: 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)

Coach: Vincenzo Montella

Star player – Arda Guler, Real Madrid: After a breakthrough campaign with Real Madrid, the left-footed playmaker won the Champions League’s Young Player of the Season award and was a regular for Los Blancos, playing 51 games across all competitions. Still just 21, his prowess from long-distance and free-kicks could be a killer weapon for his country this summer.

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Arda Guler is the standout player in Group D (Getty)

Breakout talent – Kenan Yildiz, Juventus: Versatile and capable of playing in several different forward positions, the Juventus player scored 10 Serie A goals this season and should link up well with Guler. Also strong from long distance.

Fifa ranking: 22.

Odds to win the World Cup: 80/1.

A tough one to call. Instinct says USA and Turkey will be the top two, and I’ll plump for the European side to top the group, given their momentum and attacking quality. In at third will be Paraguay, given their strong defensive record, though it admittedly feels like an oversight to overlook the Socceroos.