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Group D looks set to be one of the most compelling sections at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, pairing co-hosts the United States with Paraguay, Turkey and Australia. Anticipation is rising ahead of the tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico, where 48 nations will compete for football’s biggest prize.
The USA top the billing in a wide-open group that also features South American qualifiers Paraguay, Oceania representatives Australia and European outsiders Turkey — with all four targeting a place in the knockout rounds.
The United States will feel the weight of expectation on home soil, with a strong run seen as a potential catalyst for the sport’s growth nationwide. Led by Christian Pulisic and an exciting young core, they are widely tipped to finish first.
Paraguay arrive with fresh confidence under Gustavo Alfaro, whose psychology-led approach has helped turn a struggling side into one of CONMEBOL’s surprise qualifiers. Defensive discipline and resilience are their calling cards, making them awkward opponents for anyone.
Turkey, meanwhile, return to the finals for the first time since 2002, driven by a vibrant generation that includes Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız. Their attacking quality could take them a long way, although consistency remains the big question.
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Just over a year on from hosting the FIFA Club World Cup, the United States will again play host to the footballing world as co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup – a role that removes the need to come through qualification.
The Stars and Stripes are familiar faces on the biggest stage, having appeared at eight of the last nine tournaments, with their only miss in that run coming in 2018.
They have also reached the knockout phase in each of their last three World Cup campaigns, though all three ended at the last-16 hurdle – most recently in Qatar, where they were beaten by the Netherlands.
The USA’s best finish remains their semi-final run at the inaugural 1930 tournament, but there is increasing belief Mauricio Pochettino can oversee a standout summer, with arguably the most technically gifted squad the nation has ever had at his disposal.
Odds to win group: 11/8 ( Betfred )
Odds to qualify: 1/8 ( William Hill )
Odds to not qualify: 5/1 ( Sky Bet )
Odds to finish bottom: 13/2 ( Paddy Power )
Squad: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution); 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); Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth, Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Weah (Marseille), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América); Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
View 3 ImagesMauricio Pochettino leads the US charge this summer
After a 16-year wait, Paraguay are back on the World Cup stage after a steady qualifying campaign, clinching automatic passage to this year’s tournament by finishing in the CONMEBOL top six.
Los Guaraníes enjoyed their best-ever run in 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals, and they have made it out of the group in four of their last five World Cup appearances.
Under Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay have become known for their defensive resilience, recording 10 clean sheets across 18 qualifiers, although the Argentine coach will be keen to sharpen their cutting edge after a fairly modest return in front of goal.
Odds to win group: 7/2 ( Betfred )
Odds to qualify: 4/9 ( William Hill )
Odds to not qualify: 13/8 ( Sky Bet )
Odds to finish bottom: 9/4 ( Paddy Power )
Squad: Roberto Fernández (Cerro Porteño), Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Gastón Olveira (Olimpia); Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras), Júnior Alonso (Atletico Mineiro), Fabián Balbuena (Gremio), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Juan Caceres (Dynamo Moscow), Jose Canale (Lanus), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres), Gustavo Velázquez (Cerro Porteño); Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Kaku (Al Ain), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras), Diego Gómez (Brighton & Hove Albion), Damián Bobadilla (São Paulo), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City), Matías Galarza (Atlanta United), Maurício (Palmeiras); Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg), Gabriel Ávalos (Independiente), Alex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia), Isidro Pitta (Red Bull Bragantino), Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth)
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Set to feature at a seventh World Cup – and a sixth in a row – Australia booked their place at the 2026 finals by finishing second in Asian qualifying Group C. Tony Popovic’s side pipped Saudi Arabia on a dramatic final matchday to clinch direct qualification for the first time in 12 years.
The Socceroos’ best runs came in 2006 and 2022, when they reached the round of 16, and Popovic has spoken of pushing on to a first-ever quarter-final.
Disciplined defensively and dangerous on the break, Popovic’s Australia are notoriously hard to break down, and their knack for frustrating more technically gifted opponents was a constant throughout a fiercely contested AFC qualifying campaign.
Odds to win group: 8/1 ( Betfred )
Odds to qualify: Evens ( William Hill )
Odds to not qualify: 8/11 ( Sky Bet )
Odds to finish bottom: 10/11 ( Paddy Power )
Squad: Mathew Ryan (Levante), Paul Izzo (Randers FC), Patrick Beach (Melbourne City); Jordan Bos (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Aziz Behich (Melbourne City), Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Alessandro Circati (Parma), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Cameron Burgess (Swansea City), Kai Trewin (New York City FC), Milos Degenek (Apoel Nicosia), Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata), Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK); Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli), Aiden O’Neill (New York City FC), Paul Okon Jr (Sydney FC), Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian); Connor Metcalfe (St. Pauli), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory), Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo), Nestory Irankunda (Watford), Awer Mabil (Castellón), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo), Mohamed Toure (Norwich City), Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia)
View 3 ImagesMatty Ryan of Australia(Image: ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Turkey have rarely graced the World Cup stage and will be making only their third appearance at the finals, ending a 24-year wait since their memorable third-place finish in 2002.
The Crescent-Stars secured a place at the 2026 tournament via the play-offs, finishing second to Spain in UEFA qualifying Group E before beating Kosovo in the Path C decider to punch their ticket.
Since Vincenzo Montella took charge, Turkey have shifted towards a more progressive, technically polished brand of football, driven by a crop of gifted attacking talent — and they will believe another strong run is possible.
Odds to win group: 7/4 ( Betfred )
Odds to qualify: 1/5 ( William Hill )
Odds to not qualify: 13/8 ( Sky Bet )
Odds to finish bottom: 9/2 ( Paddy Power )
Squad: Ugurcan Cakir (Galatasaray), Mert Gunok (Fenerbahce), Altay Bayindir (Man United); Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Zeki Celik (AS Roma), Caglar Soyuncu (Fenerbahce), Mert Muldur (Fenerbahce), Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ozan Kabak (TSG Hoffenheim), Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray), Eren Elmali (Galatasaray), Samet Akaydin (Caykur Rizesport); Hakan Calhanoglou (Inter Milan, Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray), Orkun Kokcu (Besiktas), Ismail Yuksek (Fenerbahce), Salih Ozcan (Borussia Dortmund); Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce), Irfan Can Kahveci (Kasimpasa), Baris Apler Yilmaz (Galatasaray), Arda Guler (Real Madrid), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Yunus Akgun (Galatasaray), Oguz Aydin (Fenerbahce), Deniz Gul (Porto), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt)
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