Another day passed means another day closer to the start of the World Cup!
Up next in our preview series is Group D, out of which the United States will look to springboard a deep run. With Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye rounding out the group, this looks like one of the most evenly-matched and challenging groups at the tournament, and there's not a clear favorite among the four teams.
You can catch up on all the other groups here:
Ben Wright
TEAMS: United States 🇺🇸 | Paraguay 🇵🇾 | Australia 🇦🇺 | Türkiye 🇹🇷
United States 🇺🇸
FIFA World Ranking: 16
As one of the three host nations, the United States go into the World Cup with a special kind of pressure. The 2022 side was touted as a "golden generation", and while their showing was moderately respectable, the general lack of development from that core group of players has been concerning.
Despite all this, there is still real quality in the side, albeit at a more modest scale. Christian Pulisic was playing at Balon D'Or pace in the first half of the 2025-26 season for AC Milan. Weston McKennie has consistently been Juventus's most reliable player for the last several seasons. Chris Richards is an emerging center back for a very good Crystal Palace team. The list goes on...
While this may not be enough to make a serious challenge for the trophy – it almost certainly isn't – this team is more than capable of making a run into the knockout rounds. If they can make it to the Quarterfinals and give fans a signature moment – in the same mold as Landon Donovan versus Algeria – it would feel like a positive step.
How they qualified: Automatic (host)
Best-ever finish: Third place (1930)
Odds to win World Cup: +6000
Key player: Christian Pulisic is the obvious answer, but Chris Richards is probably the most important player to this team's performance. He's the best defender by a significant margin, and the US will be counting on him being healthy for the entire group stage – he's carrying an ankle issue into the tournament.
X-factor: Gio Reyna's selection turned some heads, especially with the simultaneous exclusion of Diego Luna, but the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder is still capable of moments of world-class, game-changing ability off the bench.
What’s their ceiling? On home soil, with some real quality in the squad, and a few players getting hot at the right time, it's not insane to imagine this team making a push to the Quarterfinals or even beyond.
Projection: Unfortunately, the US run into Belgium in the Round of 16 and see their tournament end once again at the hands of the Red Devils.
Fun fact: The U.S. Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with over 173 million items across 838 miles of shelving. It receives roughly 15,000 new items every working day.
Paraguay 🇵🇾
FIFA World Ranking: 40
Paraguay should not be taken lightly by anyone at this tournament. Under Argentine manager Gustavo Alfaro, they've rediscovered an identity built on rigorous defending and an all-out approach in transition. They've had some success in recent tournaments, advancing to a best-ever Quarterfinal appearance in 2010 and making it to the Round of 16 in 2022, and this veteran-laden squad is looking to improve on their past success.
Defaulting to an organized and compact 4-4-2, Paraguay defeated Brazil and Argentina in qualifying, and only lost one qualifying match after Alfaro took over in 2024. They're primarily known for their defensive strength and ability to match – and better – any team's intensity, they're also capable of playing some attractive football, with skilled attackers like Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso (Ipswich fans remember) able to produce moments of magic.
Paraguay should absolutely advance from the group stage; it's just a matter of where.
How they qualified: Paraguay finished in sixth place in CONMEBOL qualifying, the final automatic spot.
Best-ever finish: Quarterfinals (2010)
Odds to win World Cup: +30000
Key player: Julio Enciso is arguably the best player to come out of Paraguay in the last decade or more, breaking out at Brighton & Hove Albion before making a move to Strasbourg last season (a roundabout way to ultimately end up with Chelsea, who share owners with Strasbourg). He's capable of some truly stunning strikes and will need to be at his best for Paraguay to make a run.
"I don't think two Jordan Pickfords could have saved it!"
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) July 19, 2025
Julio Enciso's stunning strike against Everton is our pick for Ipswich Town's goal of the season. pic.twitter.com/3C8kUf4V1b
X-factor: Former Inter Miami and current Brighton midfielder Diego Gómez plays all around midfield, sometimes in a central role and others out wide. He'll need to find ways to play through pressure and find feet in the final third.
What’s their ceiling? Defenses, set pieces, and counterattacks tend to be an effective formula at World Cups. They could make it all the way to the Quarterfinals
Projection: Finishing third in the group will set up a likely collision course with Portugal in the Round of 32, ending Paraguay's tournament early.
Fun fact: Paraguay's flag is the only national flag in the world with different designs on its front and back. The front shows the national coat of arms, and the back shows the seal of the treasury.
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Australia 🇦🇺
FIFA World Ranking: 27
Australia are set to compete in their sixth consecutive World Cup, establishing themselves as one of the more consistent teams from Asia. In 2022, they went out in the Round of 16 after a tight 2-1 loss to eventual champions Argentina, and have rarely been outmatched by anyone.
Manager Tony Popovic took over from Graham Arnold in 2024, and has built this side around an organized defense, physical intensity, and a constant threat from set pieces. With veteran goalkeeper Matt Ryan – the third-most capped Socceroos player ever – marshalling the backline, they aren't just content to play spoiler, but will back themselves to beat any team on their day.
Nashville SC midfielder Patrick Yazbek was on track to play for Australia this summer, but his unfortunate injury before the Concacaf Champions Cup loss to Tigres means he'll watch this tournament from home.
How they qualified: Australia qualify through the Asian federation, switching from Oceania in 2006. They finished second in Group C, behind only Japan and losing just a single match.
Best-ever finish: Round of 16 (2006, 2022)
Odds to win World Cup: +60000
Key player: Midfielder Jackson Irvine is a key player on the pitch and a vocal leader off of it. The 33-year-old has been capped 80 times, the second-most of any outfield player in the squad, and plays a vital role linking defense and attack.
X-factor: 22-year-old striker Mohamed Touré scored nine goals in just 11 appearances for Norwich City after making the move to the English Championship in January, and looks set to be the starting No. 9 for the Socceroos this summer. A goal or two from him early could set the group wide open.
What’s their ceiling? Australia are brutal to play against and have consistently produced talented players for clubs across the world. On their day, they can scrape out a result against plenty of teams, and could make a run to the Round of 16.
Projection: Group D is a grind. In a less balanced group they might have a shot, but it's hard to see them advancing with three matches against three difficult teams.
Fun fact: Australia is the only country that is also a continent. It's also home to more species of venomous snakes than any other country (21 of the world's 25 most venomous species).
Türkiye 🇹🇷
FIFA World Ranking: 22
Türkiye are back at the World Cup for the first time since their upstart third-place finish in 2002. The last time they were in the tournament, start attackers Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız weren't even born. Now, they're back with a talent-laden roster and a point to prove.
Under head coach Vincenzo Montella, Türkiye play a ultra-fluid style. Whether setting up in a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-2-1, every player has the freedom to float around the pitch and pick their spots. The result is a team that is incredibly hard to defend in the final third.
Türkiye are also quite solid defensively, and get numbers back fast after losing possession to close down space. While they don't have the recent track record at the World Cup, they're certainly a team to be taken seriously, and could even be considered a dark horse for the trophy.
How they qualified: Türkiye lost just once during their qualifying campaign, but it was a 6-0 demolition by Spain. In the UEFA playoffs, they beat Romania and Kosovo (both 1-0) to book their first World Cup berth in 24 years.
Best-ever finish: Third place (2002)
Odds to win World Cup: +60000
Key player: Inter Milan's Hakan Çalhanoğlu is the captain and most important player in the squad. He is capable of popping up anywhere on the pitch, starting plays from deep, or crashing the box late. His set piece delivery is genuinely world class as well,
X-factor: 21-year-old attacker Kenan Yıldız broke out this season with 10 goals for Juventus in Serie A, and while he's a push to be 100% fit by the start of the tournament, he's a game-changing player.
What’s their ceiling? If all the cards land for Türkiye, they could make a run to the Quarterfinals, or even beyond. They have more than enough quality to win this group.
Projection: Türkiye will finish second by a narrow margin and make it to the Round of 16.
Fun fact: Istanbul is the only major city in the world that straddles two continents, with neighborhoods in both Europe and Asia separated by the Bosphorus Strait. Roughly two-thirds of the city's 16 million residents live on the European side. It's the 11th-largest city in the world, and is home to 18% of Türkiye's total residents.
Group D Wrap
Predicted final standings
| Pos | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇸 United States | Advances to Round of 32 |
| 2 | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | Advances to Round of 32 |
| 3 | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | Best-third-place contender |
| 4 | 🇦🇺 Australia | Eliminated |
The match that decides it: United States vs Türkiye – the two sides play on the final day of Group D, and could be playing for the top spot.
Best-third-place watch: Any one of these teams could find themselves in third place, and on quality whoever finishes in third should be one of the top eight third-place sides. Whoever ends in third will be more than capable of making a run in the knockouts.
